Glaucoma is an eye disease
that causes loss of sight by damaging a part of the eye
called the optic nerve. This nerve sends information from
your eyes to your brain. When glaucoma damages your optic
nerve, you begin to lose patches of vision, usually side
vision (peripheral vision). Over time, glaucoma may also
damage straight ahead (central) vision. You may not notice a
loss of side vision until you have lost a great deal of your
sight. When checking for glaucoma, eye doctors usually look
for damage to the optic nerve and any loss of side vision.
They may also check your eye pressure.
Glaucoma is often called
"the sneak thief of sight." Thats because
people usually do not notice any signs of the disease until
they have already lost significant vision. Once lost, vision
can't be restored. More than 2.2 million Americans age 40
and older have open angle glaucoma, the most common form of
glaucoma. At least half don't even know they have it.
These risk factors may
increase your chance of having glaucoma:
-
Age The older you are,
the greater your risk.
-
Race African-Americans
have glaucoma four to five times more often than others
-
African-Americans are
also likely to have glaucoma at a younger age.
-
Family history If you
have a parent, brother or sister with glaucoma, you are
more likely to get glaucoma too. If you have glaucoma,
your family members should get complete eye exams.
-
Medical history
diabetes, previous eye injuries, eye surgery or
long-term steroid use can increase your risk of
glaucoma.
Anyone can get glaucoma.
Glaucoma affects one in 200 people age 50 and younger. The
rate increases to one in 10 over the age of 80.
