By the age 65, one in every 3 people living in the Orlando area will have some form of eye disease that will impair their vision. Many of these people don’t even realize they have any vision issues because many eye diseases don’t have any systems. This makes it especially important to have regular eye exams, the earlier you catch a problem the easier it is to treat it. The famous rock singer Bono is a great example.
According to a recent article in Medical Daily, “The front man for Irish rock band U2, Paul David Hewson, best known as Bono, is identified by his signature trademark: his tinted sunglasses. The U2 singer wants the world to know he’s not an aloof rock star who wears shades indoors just because — he wears them to protect his eyes from glaucoma. The 54-year-old revealed on The Graham Norton on BBC One, he’s had glaucoma for 20 years and now is the time to tell his fans about the eye disease.
Bono revealed the mystery behind his shades when host Graham Norton started teasing the band about their accessories. “You didn’t wear sunglasses, and then when you found them, you were like ‘I love sunglasses,’” Norton said as the crowd laughed. “Do you ever take them off?”
“This is a good place to explain to people,” Bono said. “I have had glaucoma for the last 20 years.” However, the U2 front man emphasized, “I have good treatments, and I am going to be fine.”
Sunglasses are commonly used by glaucoma patients as an easy solution to dealing with light and glare while outdoors. The debilitating eye disease can make eyes highly sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, making it critical for patients to seek protection from the sun. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, long-term exposure to UV rays can damage the eye’s surface as well as its internal structures, and can sometimes even contribute to cataracts, the clouding of the lens, and macular degeneration, the breakdown of the macula.”
Some recent statistic about glaucoma from the Glaucoma Research Foundation:
It is estimated that over 2.2 million Americans have glaucoma but only half of those know they have it.
In the U.S., more than 120,000 are blind from glaucoma, accounting for 9% to 12% of all cases of blindness.
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, according to the World Health Organization.
Early detection is imperative when it comes to any eye issue. Glaucoma has very few symptoms in the early stages which is why it is so important to have regular exams
Schedule your appointment today with Lake Nona Eye Care for healthy eyes.