Glaucoma Awareness Month Press Release

Glaucoma Awareness Month at Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine (1/6/2011)

Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, Maine wishes to announce that Prevent Blindness America has designated January as National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Everyone, from infants to seniors is vulnerable. Moreover, among African-American and Hispanic populations, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness.

“Our patients should feel particularly confident as both Samuel Solish, M.D. and Robert Daly, M.D. are fellowship trained Glaucoma specialists at Eyecare Medical Group. They can attend to even the most complex Glaucoma patient problems and needs,” commented Clement Berry, Chief Executive Officer of Eyecare Medical Group.

Over 3 million Americans, and nearly 70 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. It is estimated that half of them don’t know they have it. Combined with our aging population, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don’t raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision.
“This is an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. Our understanding of this disease along with the ways in which we can diagnose and treat it have improved considerably”, commented Dr. Daly.
The most common type of glaucoma—primary open angle glaucoma—is hereditary. The Nottingham Glaucoma Study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology evaluated the risk that siblings of Glaucoma patients would themselves develop Glaucoma within their lifetime.
“While we already knew that there was a strong likelihood that family members of glaucoma patients were at greater risk, the Nottingham Study found that siblings were 5 times more likely to develop glaucoma by age 70. “This is we strongly recommend that siblings of Glaucoma patients and Glaucoma suspects be screened for Glaucoma, each and every year, said Dr. Solish.
Eyecare Medical Group is a Maine Ophthalmology practice staffed by a team of eye care specialists including Board Certified Fellowship trained Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and Intraocular lens implants, (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.
To learn more about Eyecare Medical Group in Portland Maine you may visit www.eyecaremed.com or to learn more about LASIK in Maine you may visit, www.emglasereyecenter.com. Eyecare Medical Group is a founding member of the LASIK Eye Surgery Patient Information and LASIK Surgeon Directory at www.seewithlasik.com and the Cataract Surgery, Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) and Cataract Surgeon Directory at www.aboutcataractsurgery.com.



For additional information, contact:

Gretel Taska, Eyecare Medical Group, 53 Sewall Street, Portland, Maine 04102, GTaska@eyecaremed.com, 1.888.374.2020