The Silent Crisis of Glaucoma in Black America: A Michigan Doctor’s Fight Against Blindness

Glaucoma doesn’t make headlines, but for Black people, it has quietly become a leading cause of blindness. The disease strikes Black individuals five times more often than their white counterparts, with blindness occurring at six times the rate. Glaucoma starts its assault years earlier in the Black community, often catching people off guard. It’s a silent epidemic that Michigan’s Black population knows all too well, and it’s an issue that requires more than just awareness. It demands action. This is a reality that has gone unaddressed for far too long, and it’s leaving a devastating impact on countless lives. Early detection is the key to preventing vision loss, but for many Black people, the barriers to care are overwhelming. This means the community is fighting a silent battle against an aggressive disease that many aren’t even aware they have. Dr. Victoria Williams is answering that call. As Michigan’s only Black neuro-ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, she has dedicated her life to combating this crisis. Her private practice offers not only top-tier care but a deep cultural understanding of the barriers her patients face. For many in the Black community, these barriers are more than just financial. Access to quality healthcare, timely...