Once you hit 40, you should get tested.

• Position: Glaucoma - Brief article

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment, affecting as many as 2,200,000 people in the U.S. Physicians at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, are encouraging people at risk--those older than 40, with a family history of glaucoma, or of African-American or Hispanic heritage--to be tested. Using drops in the eyes that dilate a patient's pupils, eye care professionals can check for signs of glaucoma.

"With early detection and treatment, vision loss can often be prevented," advises ophthalmologist Jess Whitson. He recommends having a dilated eye exam every one to two years.

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can...