Unexpected sight loss is more common than you may think. All too often people unexpectedly lose their eyesight with nary a warning sign, and these people are often unaware of the risks involved.

Unexpected sight loss is primarily caused by two diseases — diabetes and glaucoma. These diseases are known as the “sneak thieves of sight” because symptoms may not occur in the early stages. Once an individual finally realizes that something is amiss, it may already be too late to reverse the loss of vision.

The leading cause of adult blindness, as can be surmised, is diabetic eye disease. An average of 55 Americans go blind from the disease each day. And this is a number that is constantly on the rise, largely due to diabetes being caused by an improper diet, a sedentary lifestyle and the natural process of aging. One third of all children born in the United States half a decade ago are expected to develop diabetes at some point in their lives.

Seventy percent of those who suffer from diabetes also suffer from a partial or complete loss of eyesight. Yet 30 percent of all people who have diabetes don’t even know they have it. Even those who know they suffer from diabetes de-emphasize their condition and the possible complications.

One survey released stated that sixty percent of diabetes had no worries about losing a limb or their eyesight due to the condition. Sadly, there is a very formidable chance that a diabetic may develop serious complications, as about 74 percent might actually have to lose a limb, sacrifice their vision or develop kidney failure as a consequence of their diabetes.

As for glaucoma, this is the general term used to describe a family of eye diseases that target the fine nerves that serve as connectors between the eye and brain. For most people, this damage occurs when pressure in the eye is too high. One may lose his or her vision when the nerves are damaged by the pressure.

Glaucoma is the second most frequent reason why Americans lose their eyesight. Unlike diabetes, where most people who have it know that they do, about half of the estimated four million Americans with glaucoma do not realize they suffer from this condition.

Diabetes and glaucoma are particularly pre-eminent among African-American and Hispanic groups. Compared to Caucasians and other ethnic groups, blacks and Hispanics are supposedly more predisposed to such conditions based on their genetic makeup. Others particularly at risk for glaucoma are people over 60, those with a family history of glaucoma, diabetics and the very near-sighted.

Fortunately, those who now realize they are at risk can get a dilated eye exam to detect both diseases and if treatment is done expediently, vision loss can be prevented. Vision experts urge at-risk people to have regular eye exams.

It would behoove you to do your part in increasing the awareness of diabetic eye disease and glaucoma — one small step to eliminating the threat of unnecessary blindness.

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