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Glaucoma
Glaucoma is sometimes called the silent thief,
slowly stealing your sight before you realize
anything's wrong. The most common form of glaucoma
develops gradually, giving no warning signs. Many
people aren't even aware they have an eye problem
until their vision is extensively damaged.
Risk factors
If your intraocular pressure is higher than what's considered normal,
you're at increased risk of developing glaucoma. Yet most people with
slightly elevated intraocular pressure don't develop the disease. This
makes it difficult to predict who will get glaucoma.
Certain other factors increase your risk. Because chronic forms of
glaucoma can destroy vision before any symptoms are apparent, be aware
of these factors:
-
Age.
Age is a large risk factor in the development of glaucoma. Everyone
older than 60 is at increased risk of the disorder. For blacks
however, the increase in risk becomes apparent earlier, after age
40.
-
Race.
Blacks are significantly more likely to get glaucoma than are
whites, and they are much more likely to suffer permanent blindness
as a result. Hispanics also face an increased risk. The reasons for
these differences aren't clear. Asian-Americans are at higher risk
of angle-closure glaucoma, and Japanese-Americans are more prone to
low-tension glaucoma.
-
Family history
of glaucoma.
If you have a family history of glaucoma, you have a much greater
risk of developing glaucoma.
-
Medical
conditions.
Diabetes increases your risk of developing glaucoma. A history of
high blood pressure or heart disease also can increase your risk.
Other risk factors include retinal detachment, eye tumors and eye
inflammations such as chronic uveitis and iritis. Certain types of
eye surgery may trigger secondary glaucoma.
-
Physical
injuries.
Severe trauma, such as being hit in the eye, can result in increased
eye pressure. Injury can also dislocate the lens, closing the
drainage angle.
-
Nearsightedness.
Being nearsighted, which generally means that objects in the
distance look fuzzy without glasses or contacts, increases the risk
of developing glaucoma.
-
Prolonged
corticosteroid use.
Using corticosteroids for prolonged periods of time appears to put
you at risk of getting secondary glaucoma.
-
Eye
abnormalities.
Structural abnormalities of the eye can lead to secondary glaucoma.
For example, pigmentary glaucoma is a form of secondary glaucoma
caused by pigment granules being released from the back of the iris.
These granules can block the trabecular meshwork.
When to seek medical advice
Primary open-angle glaucoma gives few warning signs until permanent
damage has already occurred. That's why regular eye exams are the key to
detecting glaucoma early enough for successful treatment. It's best to
have routine eye checkups every two to four years after age 40 and every
one to two years after age 65. Because African Americans have a much
higher risk of glaucoma, screening should begin every three to five
years from age 20 to 29, and every two to four years after the age of
30. Don't wait for symptoms of any kind to occur. If you have one or
more risk factors for glaucoma, talk to your doctor about scheduling
regular eye exams. Some tests can be performed by your regular doctor,
but others need to be done by an eye care specialist.
In addition, be alert for signs of an acute angle-closure glaucoma
attack, such as a severe headache or pain in your eye or eyebrow,
nausea, blurred vision, or rainbow halos around lights. If you
experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate care at your local
hospital emergency room.
If you've received a diagnosis of glaucoma, establish a regular schedule
of examinations with your doctor to be sure your treatment is helping
maintain a safe pressure in your eyes.
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