Unfortunately, some people over the age of 40 are at a higher risk for glaucoma as well as those who are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage. Other risk factors include people with high eye pressure, those who have suffered from an eye injury, people with family members who have glaucoma, people who use a long-term steroid medication, those who have thin corneas, and people who have a thinning optic nerve. Additionally, those living with the following are at risk:
Diabetes, migraines, high and low blood pressure, poor blood circulation, or other health problems that affect the whole body. Family members of those with glaucoma have a ten-fold risk of getting glaucoma themselves.
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide and the third most common in the U.S. and Europe. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive damage of the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye to carry visual information to the brain. If left untreated, most types of glaucoma get worse without warning or obvious symptoms. There is gradual visual damage that worsens and could lead to blindness. The visual damage is not reversible.
Medication or surgery can stop or slow down any further vision loss. It is extremely important to see an eye doctor on a regular basis because early detection is very important. Your eye doctor can detect glaucoma in its early stages and decide on the best course of action.