Risk Factors for Glaucoma

Risk Factors for Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an optic nerve disease and one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Also known as the second cranial nerve, the optic nerve transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

The fluid called aqueous humor is made in front of the eyes and flows out at the tiny drain called the trabecular meshwork, located at the drainage angle. If the fluid does not flow correctly, the eye pressure builds up thus, damaging the optic nerve.

This disease is irreversible unless treated early. Symptoms go unnoticed unless the patient experiences vision loss in the later stage, beginning with peripheral vision.

1. Those with a family history of glaucoma. In most cases, glaucoma is a hereditary (genetic) disorder that is passed on within families, and immediate relatives are at elevated risk.

2. They are people over 60 years old. Aging possibly leads to the optic nerve’s deterioration over time, because the aged optic nerve is less able to tolerate different affronts, such as elevated eye pressure. It is also possible that the mechanism by which eye fluid flows out of the eye may begin to degrade over time. The eye pressure slowly increases as the outflow pathway weakens.

3.Those with African-American race. The reason for the increased glaucoma prevalence among African Americans and related blindness is still unknown.

4. Those taking Corticosteroids. Around 1912, when the United States first used steroids. Steroid-induced glaucoma has been recognized for over 60 years after systemic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH).

5. Physical injuries to the eye. Severe trauma, such as being hit in the eye, can cause immediate increased eye pressure. Internal damage from such a trauma can also cause future increases in pressure.

6. Those with diabetes. The longer someone has had diabetes, the greater the risk of glaucoma developing.

Patients have to be advised that the aim of glaucoma treatment is not to regain vision loss but to slow down the progress of damage. And the best way to prevent glaucoma is early detection.