JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, December 6, 2012- January is dedicated to Glaucoma Awareness Month, and according to Prevent Blindness America, more than 2.2 million Americans age 40 and older suffer from glaucoma. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness, and is often called the”the sneak thief of sight.”

Glaucoma is when vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain. When a patient develops glaucoma, those images are modified as vision becomes impaired and limited. The most common forms of glaucoma primarily affect the middle-aged and the elderly, however, glaucoma can affect people of all ages.

C.M. Harris, M.D., Ophthalmologist with Clay Eye Physicians & Surgeons states,”A patient can have glaucoma and not even know it. There are typically no symptoms, and once their vision is lost, it is irreversible. Annual eye exams are imperative and the key to detection and treatment.”

Clay Eye Physicians and Surgeons offers comprehensive eye care in the following specialties: Evaluation and treatment of Glaucoma , Cataract Surgery, Cornea Surgery, Medical Retina, Diabetic Eye Disease and Macular Degeneration, LASIK Surgery, Cosmetic Eye Procedures, Pediatric Ophthalmology, and Pediatric Eye Exams. In addition, they offer Comprehensive Eye Exams, Contact Lenses, and Boutique Eyewear for the entire family. Clay Eye Physicians & Surgeons was established in 1977 and is an eight physician group. They currently have offices in Orange Park, Fleming Island and Mandarin. If you would like more information about Clay Eye, please contact (904) 272-2020, or visit their website at www.clayeye.com