Glaucoma cases on the rise - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Glaucoma cases on the rise

Posted: Updated:
  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:10 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:10:40 GMT
    Ravi Mikel Givens was arrested Tuesday and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He is being held in the Dougherty County jail. Givens, who played ball at Westover and Stetson
    Agents say that police responded to the apartment because of a burglar alarm. Officers found the back door broken open and went inside. That's where they detected a strong odor of marijuana, and saw pot in plain view.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:53 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:53:35 GMT
    Officials say 38-year-old Melissa Right was traveling south on the highway when her SUV drifted across the center line and hit a tractor trailer.
    Officials say 38-year-old Melissa Right was traveling south on the highway when her SUV drifted across the center line and hit a tractor trailer.
  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:16 AM EDT2013-06-19 14:16:37 GMT
    Demetria Porter, charged with causing the death of Ja' Kavion Davis, appeared before a judge at the Dougherty County jail this morning to hear the charges against her. She is charged with cruelty to a
    Demetria Porter, charged with causing the death of Ja' Kavion Davis, appeared before a judge at the Dougherty County jail this morning to hear the charges against her.
THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) -

More Georgians are suffering from glaucoma.

A recent study estimates more than 82,000 people in the state have the eye disease.

That's up 35 percent in 10 years.

Prevent Blindness Georgia is joining with other leading vision and eye health groups to promote January as National Glaucoma Awareness Month.

Eye doctors say a big reason for the increase in cases is better detection.

"We have a lot better instrumentation today then we once did and there is a lot better understanding on the dynamics of the condition as well. So that when a person has there eyes evaluated and they have a thorough comprehensive eye evaluation, we are looking at things other than just the pressure within the eye," said Optometrist Dr. Ron Bannister.

The study says half the people who have glaucoma are not aware of it.

 

WALB. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2013