Falcon Facts 2025 - 2026

Nurse's Corner

Reyna St. Germain, DNP, APRN, FNP- BC
reyna.stgermain@dodea.edu

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

According to the National Eye Institute (2025), and Nemours KidsHealth (2023), glaucoma is often called the silent thief of vision because it can progress without symptoms until significant vision loss occurs.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is not just one disease. It is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the cable that sends visual information from your eye to your brain.

What causes glaucoma?

Most types of glaucoma are linked to intraocular pressure, although some people develop glaucoma even with normal eye pressure.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

There are usually no early warning signs. Vision changes start slowly, usually with side (peripheral) vision. People often compensate without realizing it, which is why glaucoma can progress for years before anyone notices and why regular eye exams are crucial.

Older children and teens may have:

•     blurry vision
•     nearsightedness that gets worse
•     trouble seeing things off to the side

How is glaucoma detected?

Regular eye exams are the only reliable way to catch glaucoma early. If you are at higher risk for glaucoma, be sure to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years. A dilated eye exam is important because screening for eye pressure alone is not enough to detect glaucoma.

How can parents help?

Eye pressure can change during puberty and at other times in a person’s life. Kids and teens should get their eyes checked during childhood and throughout adulthood. Encourage your child to use protective eyewear during sports and recreational activities.

References

National Eye Institute (2025). Glaucoma. https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma

Nemours KidsHealth. (2023). Glaucoma. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/glaucoma.html