LUTCHER — St. James Parish Hospital is once again partnering with the Lions’ Club and River Parishes Eye Care to celebrate Glaucoma Awareness Month.

Dr. Richard Granger, OD, will be performing free Glaucoma Screenings for community members from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 22 in the medical plaza located next to St. James Parish Hospital in Lutcher.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Recognizing Glaucoma Awareness Month in December helps to promote the importance of regular eye exams to preserve vision.

There are no symptoms of Glaucoma and vision loss due to the condition is permanent.

As much as 40 percent of vision can be lost without a person noticing, medical officials said.

Currently, more than 2.7 million people in the United States over age 40 have glaucoma.

The National Eye Institute projects this number to reach 4.2 million by 2030 — a startling 58 percent increase.

St. James Parish Hospital has served the River Parishes since 1955 both medically and through community service programs. Lion’s Club Members have worked on projects designed to prevent blindness, restore eyesight and improve eye health and eye care for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

To learn more about this disease, visit glaucoma.org. For questions regarding screenings, call 225-258-5998.