Are You At Risk for Glaucoma?

When discussing glaucoma, you may very well hear it affiliated with blindness. This is because glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, according to World Health Organization (WHO).

Unfortunately, glaucoma is incurable, but at Eye Physicians & Surgeons of Arizona we make the treatment and management of glaucoma a top priority for our patients, and we help those who are at risk for glaucoma manage their risks and monitor their eye health. Glaucoma care in Scottsdale makes prevention of complications a top priority.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve due to increased pressure inside the eyes, medically called intraocular pressure (IOP). The rise in this pressure is primarily caused by blockage of the flow of fluid in the front chamber of the eyes called the aqueous humor.

One type of glaucoma (open angle) takes years to gradually lessen the visual field and it is the most common within elderly populations. However, the other form of glaucoma (closed angle) can happen any time, such as when a person sustains mechanical and chemical trauma in the eye.

Manifestations can appear late in the development of the disease, as it may be difficult to notice the gradual loss of vision. Manifestations of glaucoma include seeing halos, blurring of vision, and eye pain. Glaucoma treatment in Scottsdale involves regular check-ups, drops or oral medications that help to lower intraocular pressure, and we offer a variety of glaucoma surgeries to assist our patients in maintaining their vision.

Risk Factors for Glaucoma

It is important to remember that glaucoma can happen to anyone at any given time. It is not exclusive to the elderly, although increasing age is one risk factor itself. Here are some factors that increase a person’s chances of having glaucoma:

History of Glaucoma in the Family

Studies show that having a family history of glaucoma increases an individual’s chance of having the same condition by four to nine times, as compared to those who do not have family history glaucoma. The most common type of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, is hereditary.

Age

With age comes deterioration of body’s physiological functions. Increased age is directly correlated with a higher risk of glaucoma. The more the person ages, the higher their chances of developing vision loss due to glaucoma. Older people are six times more likely to suffer from glaucoma than those in the younger population.

Ethnicity

Glaucoma is more common in African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. Chronic glaucoma is common in African-Americans. On the other hand, Asians have angle-closure glaucoma. People of Japanese heritage in particular are at risk for normal tension glaucoma.

The threat glaucoma poses to the quality of vision is a serious matter that needs to be dealt with critically. It is important to schedule regular eye exams with your If you have the mentioned risk factors, it is wise to meet with your eye doctor in Scottsdale or Glendale. Contact us now for the best glaucoma treatment in Arizona that your vision deserves best!