NMAO releases a new policy brief, New Mexico’s Elevated Glaucoma Risk and Eye-Care Capacity: Implications for Collaborative Screening and Long-Term Vision Health
On January 12, 2026, the New Mexico Academy of Ophthalmology released a new policy brief, New Mexico’s Elevated Glaucoma Risk and Eye-Care Capacity: Implications for Collaborative Screening and Long-Term Vision Health, highlighting a critical gap in eye-care access: New Mexico needs more primary eye care providers such as optometrists to prevent avoidable glaucoma-related vision loss. Drawing on national epidemiologic studies, demographic trends, and state licensure data, the brief finds that timely glaucoma detection relies on routine eye care delivered by optometrists. Without expanding the number of practicing optometrists, particularly in high-risk and rural communities, glaucoma will continue to go undiagnosed until permanent vision loss occurs.