Glaucoma Risk FactorsAll patients should be considered to be at risk for Glaucoma. However there are certain predisposing factors that can make some patients at greater risk than others. Some of these factors are problematic by themselves while others may increase your risk of Glaucoma when combined with one another (http://www.glaucoma.com/learn/are_you_at_risk.html). The most important risk factors for Glaucoma include the following:
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High Intraocular Pressure
Anyone with an elevated Intraocular Pressure (IOP) is considered to be at risk for developing Glaucoma.
Your age plays a role in your risk for Glaucoma since the incidence of Glaucoma increases with age and becomes much more frequent after the age of 40. If you are over 60 years of age, you are six times more likely to get Glaucoma even if you have no other family or medical history that is significant. This risk increases if you have any family history of Glaucoma or any other systemic or eye disease that compromises your circulation such as diabetes.
African-Americans have certain genetic factors that cause a much higher likelihood of developing Glaucoma within their lifetime. African-Americans have a six to eight fold increase in risk for Glaucoma. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans. Asians appear to have higher risk for developing Narrow Angle Glaucoma. In addition, Hispanics over the age of 60 seem to be at increased risk.
There is the belief that certain patients who are considerably nearsighted may have internal eye structures that can increase the risk of Glaucoma.
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High Blood Pressure or Hypertension
Anyone who is taking medication for high blood pressure may be at greater risk for Glaucoma. Since blood pressure medications lower your overall blood pressure, they also act to lower the blood pressure within the Optic Nerve which can predispose you to developing Glaucoma.
Anyone being treated for diabetes is considered to be at greater risk for Glaucoma due to the general circulation problems experienced with diabetes.
A very significant risk factor is any family history of Glaucoma. If any other family members have been diagnosed with Glaucoma, your risk of developing Glaucoma increases four to nine fold over the general population. This is particularly true for siblings of Glaucoma patients have a 5-fold increase in risk for developing Glaucoma.
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Other Glaucoma Risk Factors
In addition to these factors, if you have had trauma to your eyes (i.e. a sports injury or car accident) or if you have been treated for Asthma for long periods of time with steroid inhalers or have a corneal thickness less than 0.5mm, you too may have an increased risk for Glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a very complex eye disease, and not simply an elevated Intraocular Pressure (IOP). Nonetheless, when detected early it can be successfully treated. At Coastal Eye Care in Maine, our eye physicians and staff provide the full scope of advanced technology diagnostic testing and treatment, as well as taking the time necessary to give each patient the personal education needed to fully understand their condition in order to get the best possible outcomes for our patients.
If you, a family member or friend are at risk for Glaucoma or need an eye examination and Glaucoma evaluation, Coastal Eye Care provides advanced testing for the diagnosis and treatment of Glaucoma and is conveniently located in Ellsworth, Maine.
To schedule an appointment for a Glaucoma evaluation, please call Coastal Eye Care in Maine at 207.667.6300.
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