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C A L E N D A R January Is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that can damage your optic nerve. The optic nerve supplies visual information to your brain
from your eyes.

Glaucoma is usually, but not always, the result of abnormally high pressure inside your eye. Over time, the increased
pressure can erode your optic nerve tissue, which may lead to vision loss or even blindness. If it’s caught early, you may
be able to prevent additional vision loss.

What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

The most common type of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma. It has no signs or symptoms except gradual vision
loss. For that reason, it’s important that you go to yearly comprehensive eye exams so your ophthalmologist, or eye
specialist, can monitor any changes in your vision.

Acute-angle closure glaucoma, which is also known as narrow-angle glaucoma, is a medical emergency. See your
doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: Severe eye pain, nausea, vomiting, redness in your
eye, sudden vision disturbances, seeing colored rings around lights and sudden blurred vision.

What Causes Glaucoma?

The back of your eye continuously makes a clear fluid called aqueous humor. As this fluid is made, it fills the front part of
your eye. Then, it leaves your eye through channels in your cornea and iris. If these channels are blocked or partially
obstructed, the natural pressure in your eye, which is called the intraocular pressure (IOP), may increase. As your IOP
increases, your optic nerve may become damaged. As damage to your nerve progresses, you may begin losing sight in
your eye.

What causes the pressure in your eye to increase isn’t always known. However, doctors believe one or more of these
factors may play a role: dilating eye drops, block or restricted drainage in your eye, medications, such as corticosteroids,
poor or reduced blood flow to your optic nerve and high or elevated blood pressure.

Glaucoma can’t be prevented, but it’s still important to catch it early so you can begin treatment that will help prevent it
from getting worse. The best way to catch any type of glaucoma early is to have an annual preventive eye care
appointment. Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Simple tests performed during these routine eye checks
may be able to detect damage from glaucoma before it advances and begins causing vision loss.

Don’t wait, make that appointment with your eye doctor.

PGICA RECOGNITION PROGRAM Ed Zapke, ezapke@comcast.net

We wish each of you a very happy, healthy, and safe New Year. 2017 was
quite a year, and as you look around our special spot, there is still much
evidence of its imprint. But guess what? We made it! It is time to move on.

Some of us were here for Hurricane Charley. Out of that disaster developed
one of the most vibrant communities in all of Florida. Volunteers emerged who
were not feeling self-pity but instead sought a challenge. A community came
together. Organizations no longer competed for talent but instead shared
talents. And talented they were. It has been said many times over that the
residents of Punta Gorda are unparalleled in their willingness to give of
themselves.

The PGICA provides the infrastructure for these volunteers to demonstrate
their creativity, generosity, and concern for their community. The organization was built on the backs of members who
have stepped up to the plate. They have expressed optimism and a spirit to get things done.

For the past several years, PGICA has developed a program to recognize those who have made a difference. At the
southeast corner of our center is a garden where engraved bricks honor those who have shared their talents. Not one of
these people sought recognition but each deserved it. Over the next several months, there will be articles in the
Commentator describing our honorees, the Recognition Committee, and the nominating process. Then comes the time
for you to get involved – take a few minutes and nominate someone who you believe has made a difference in our
community.
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