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711 - Understanding Glaucoma
There are an estimated three million Americans with glaucoma, a condition that if left untreated can often lead to blindness. The real tragedy is that half of these people don't even know they have the disease - although testing for it is quick, easy and painless - and they probably won't know until it's too late. To be sure, understanding glaucoma has come a long way over the past 20 years. What we thought we knew about it has evolved a great deal, and our knowledge of how to identify and treat it has grown in sophistication and effectiveness as well. But, the sad fact is that many people still don't get tested in time to prevent it, and when they are diagnosed, they often allow themselves to ignore their condition and descend into blindness. As such, this episode is designed to not only examine what glaucoma is and how to treat it, but to encourage our viewers to get tested for it. Moreover, the episode will also serve as a testament to the extreme importance of self-care and the celebration of life - for 10% of the time, even when glaucoma is diagnosed and treated early, it still causes blindness. However, given the power of the human spirit, even that is a condition that can be overcome.
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