Glaucoma Risk Factors

Glaucoma does not present symptoms before damage occurs. Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some of us have an elevated risk. Regular eye exams can detect glaucoma before it robs you of your vision.

Blood pressure

High blood pressure increases your risk of developing glaucoma.

Surprisingly, normal tension glaucoma occurs most often in people with low blood pressure in their 60's.

Family history of glaucoma

It is believed that primary open angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma, is hereditary. If you have relatives with glaucoma you are more likely to develop the disease.

Race

African Americans age 40 and over and people of Hispanic descent age 60 and over are at an elevated risk for open angle glaucoma. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African Americans.

People of Asian and Eskimo descent have an elevated risk of developing closed angle glaucoma.

Japanese Americans are more likely to develop normal tension glaucoma.

Age

People over 60 years old are six times more likely to develop glaucoma than younger people. The risk starts to go up significantly at age 40.

Diabetes

Diabetes doubles your risk of developing glaucoma.

Injuries

Trauma to the eye can cause an increase of pressure in the eye. A dislocated lens retinal detachment, or eye tumor can cause the drainage to be blocked leading to increased pressure.

Severe nearsighted or farsightedness

Extreme nearsightedness (myopia) is a sign that you are at risk for open angle glaucoma. Farsightedness (hyperopia) can mean that you are at risk for closed angle glaucoma.

Thin Corneas

People with thin corneas often develop open angle glaucoma.

Steroid use

Prolonged use of steroids has been associated with secondary glaucoma .

If you fall into any of these risk categories, your chance for developing glaucoma is elevated. If you have several risk factors you may be at a very high risk, or you may already be in the early stages of glaucoma. If you suspect that you are at an elevated risk for glaucoma, talk to your ophthalmologist today.

Articles about other vision disorders : Types of Glaucoma, Secondary Glaucoma, Acute Angle Glaucoma, Diabetes and Glaucoma, Lasik and Glaucoma, What Everyone Should Know About Glaucoma, Diabetic Eye Disease, Dry Eye, Amblyopia, Macular Degeneration, Computer Vision Syndrome, Cataracts, Cancer of the Eye, Keratoconus, and Epithelial and Stromal Dystrophies.