Raising awareness: Dissemination of information to help patients get ahead of glaucoma

Websites about glaucoma abound, and their main goal is to raise awareness to prevent visual loss. Many websites are specific to glaucoma, but a few also provide information about other eye diseases as well and how to maintain overall eye health.

This article touches on some of the myriad resources and practical information that can be found within the respective websites.

American Glaucoma Society

The society emphasizes resources, research, and support, and instructs patients in finding an American Glaucoma Society doctor in their locality as well as providing links to other organizations such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCareAmerica and eyeSmart site; the International Glaucoma Association, the National Eye Institute; the Glaucoma Foundation; the National Consumers League, and the Safe Surgery Coalition.

The American Glaucoma Society also provides educational handouts on angle-closure glaucoma that explain the disease and its mechanism of action, risk factors, a technique for possible prevention, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment as well as numerous other ocular diseases.

Another component of the patient portal is AGS Cares, a new public service program described as “dedicated to providing surgical glaucoma care at no cost to uninsured or underserved patients who qualify for such care. The glaucoma care is provided by members of a national network of volunteers comprising glaucoma surgeons who are AGS active or provisional members.” The AGS Cares patient and physician enrollment and eligibility form is now available.

The website also offers a patient portal with answers to the most frequently asked questions about glaucoma. 

Glaucoma Research Foundation

With January, Glaucoma Awareness Month, upon us, one awareness activity that the Glaucoma Research Foundation advocates includes a four-step proactive approach for families that begins with having family members talk to each other about the disease. “If you have glaucoma, don’t keep it a secret. Let your family members know,” the website emphasizes.

The next steps are educational in nature and include referring a friend to www.glaucoma.org, requesting that a free educational booklet, “Understanding And Living With Glaucoma,” be sent, and becoming involved in your community through fundraisers, information sessions, group discussions, and inviting expert speakers, among others.

Prevent Blindness

This organization provides patients with a great deal of information about living with glaucoma as well as many sobering facts about the increasing prevalence of the disease.

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