Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve of the eye. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old. However, blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early intervention and treatment.
Causes of / Risks Factors for Glaucoma
Some people have a higher than normal risk of developing glaucoma. Risk factors include:
- Age over 40
- Family members with glaucoma
- African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage
- High eye pressure
- Farsighted or Nearsighted
- Eye Injury
- Long-term steroid medications
- Corneas that are thin in the center
- Thinning of the optic nerve
- Diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation or other health problems affecting the whole body.
Talk with your ophthalmologist about your risk for getting glaucoma.
People with more than two of these risk factors have an even higher risk of glaucoma.