Outreach and Special Populations Branch

Glaucoma Awareness Month: Resources on Glaucoma from the National Library of Medicine

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, and the Glaucoma Research Foundation estimates that more than 3 million people in the US are affected by the condition.  According to MedlinePlus, Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve, and it is a leading cause of blindness in the US.  The National Library of Medicine hosts a variety of online resources targeted towards different populations, which can help a wide range of people learn more about diagnosis and treatment options for glaucoma: 

• The General Public:  The Health Topics page on glaucoma at MedlinePlus provides a simple summary and links to useful diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and research links. Members of the public can also learn about the genetic risks for early-onset glaucoma from the Genetics Home Reference website.   
• Older Adults: The NIHSeniorHealth website offers a detailed but easy-to-understand article on glaucoma, listing symptoms and tests, treatment, tips for protecting your vision, and frequently asked questions about the condition.
• Multilingual Resources: Resources in 12 languages about glaucoma are available on MedlinePlus.  Also find multilingual patient information about glaucoma at HealthReach.