Posted by: Associates in Ophthalmology (NJ) in Eye Health
Known as the ‘silent thief of sight,’ damage from glaucoma often goes unnoticed until it’s too late to reverse it. However, you can prevent vision loss from glaucoma by understanding your risk factors and attending regular eye exams.
Keep reading to learn more about common glaucoma risk factors and what they mean for how you should care for your eyes.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. It is usually caused by a buildup of fluid in the eye, which raises intraocular (eye) pressure.
Rising intraocular pressure (IOP) can damage the optic nerve, the part of your eye that is responsible for sending visual information to your brain. What makes this condition particularly dangerous is that symptoms often don’t appear until significant damage has already occurred.
Once you experience vision loss from glaucoma, it is irreversible, meaning that knowing your risk for the condition and catching the signs early is vital for protecting your eyesight.
Who Should Be Worried About Glaucoma?
While anyone can have glaucoma, you may have a higher risk of developing the condition if you:
Are Over Age 40
If you’re over 40, your risk of developing glaucoma begins to increase significantly. The risk continues to rise with each decade, with people over 60 being six times more likely to develop glaucoma than younger individuals.
Have a Family History of Glaucoma
Having close relatives with glaucoma can increase your risk by up to nine times compared to those without a family history. This genetic component makes regular screening even more important if glaucoma runs in your family.
Are Nearsighted or Farsighted
If you have nearsightedness, you are at higher risk for open-angle glaucoma, whereas people with farsightedness have a higher risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma.
Are of African, Hispanic, or Asian Descent
Your ethnic background plays a significant role in determining your risk of developing glaucoma. African Americans are up to eight times more likely to develop glaucoma and experience vision loss at younger ages, and Hispanic and Latino individuals face a higher risk as well.
People of Asian descent are particularly susceptible to angle-closure glaucoma, a less common form of the condition.
Have Had Significant Eye Injuries
An eye injury or trauma to the eye can raise intraocular pressure and lead to secondary glaucoma.
Use Long-Term Steroid Medications
Long-term use of steroid medications, whether in eye drop form, oral tablets, or even some inhalers, can raise eye pressure and increase your glaucoma risk.
Have Certain Health Conditions
Certain health conditions significantly increase your glaucoma risk, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Have Certain Eye Abnormalities
If you have high eye pressure, a thin corneal center, or thinning of the optic nerve, you may have a higher risk of developing glaucoma.
Patients with one or more of these risk factors should schedule frequent exams with their eye doctor. Because glaucoma often progresses without symptoms, regular comprehensive eye exams are your best defense.
During these examinations, your eye doctor can look for early signs of glaucoma by:
- Measuring your intraocular pressure
- Examining your optic nerve for signs of damage
- Testing your peripheral vision
- Evaluating the drainage angle of your eye
- Measuring your corneal thickness
By detecting glaucoma in its earliest stages, your eye doctor can start treatment when it is most effective at preserving your vision. Learn more about your glaucoma risk factors when you schedule an appointment at Associates in Ophthalmology in Livingston, NJ, today!
