This month the Visually Impaired People organization is partnering with the National Eye Institute to spread awareness about glaucoma, a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and cause vision loss or blindness.

Three million Americans are suffer from glaucoma, but half of do not realize they have the disease because of its lack of early symptoms, according to data from the NEI.

Glaucoma occurs when fluid that normally flows in and out of the eye drains too slowly. As the fluid builds, pressure inside the eye increases, leading to optic nerve damage and reduced vision or blindness. If detected early, however, serious vision loss could be avoided. William Bowman, president of VIP, said he was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of nine.

“Glaucoma can happen to anyone, from a senior citizen to a young kid,” Bowman said. “That’s why it is so important to have to your eyes examined.”

Bowman, 39, has undergone nearly 30 glaucoma surgeries throughout his life.

He said having so many surgeries took an emotional and physical toll on his life, and he would not like to see another person go through the same thing.

“There is a psychological barrier that you have to get through when you’re having surgery for glaucoma. You keep wondering ‘is this going to work?'” Bowman said.

While anyone can develop glaucoma, high-risk groups include people over the age of 60, African-Americans over the age of 40, and people who have a family history of the disease.

“One percent, or one out of every 100 Caucasians develop glaucoma. It’s about 6 percent and up for African-Americans,” said Dr. Brendan Wyatt, of Wyatt-Kirkpatrick Eye Associates in Selma.

Wyatt said there are no symptoms of glaucoma and the disease is hard to diagnose. Wyatt said a person can have glaucoma for 15 to 20 years before they begin to notice signs of the disease, which include a sensation of looking through a tunnel.

Treatment of glaucoma depends of the severity of the disease, and usually includes eye drops, pills, a laser procedure or a surgical procedure.