There’s some good news in the world of eye care. The probability of blindness due to the serious eye disease glaucoma has decreased by nearly half since 1980, according to a study published this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. According to the researchers, they believe that the advances in diagnosis and therapy are likely causes for the decrease, but caution that a significant proportion of patients still may progress to blindness.

The study was conducted by a team based at the Mayo Clinic, and was the first to assess long-term changes in the risk of progression to blindness and the population incidence of glaucoma-related blindness.

According to the article, Arthur J. Sit, M.D., associate professor of ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and lead researcher for the study said that, “These results are extremely encouraging for both those suffering from glaucoma and the doctors who care for them, and suggest that the improvements in the diagnosis and treatment have played a key role in improving outcomes.”

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140121104107.htm