Do you have these Risk Factors for Glaucoma?
Updated: Feb 10
Everything You Need to Know about Risk Factors for developing Glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can lead to vision loss and blindness. It is caused by damage to the optic nerve, which carries information from the eye to the brain. Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is in its later stages. Glaucoma is sometimes called the silent thief of sight because it slowly damages the eyes and can cause irreparable harm before there is any vision loss.
There are several risk factors for glaucoma, including:
1. Age:
Glaucoma can occur at any age but is more common in older adults. Ageing plays an important role in glaucoma, as the prevalence of glaucoma increases exponentially. It is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.
Age is also a risk factor for primary angle-closure glaucoma. One of the reasons is that as we get older, the lens also thickens. This thickened lens can further narrow angles that were already susceptible to being narrow. Older age is not only a risk factor for the diagnosis of glaucoma but also for its progression.
2. Family history:
Research studies suggest that one of the greatest risk factors for developing glaucoma is having a family history of the disease. Having a sibling with the disease increases your risk significantly. For example, if you have a brother or sister with glaucoma you have a 10 times greater chance of developing it. A family history of glaucoma was also associated with a more aggressive disease.
If you have a family history of glaucoma, you are more likely to carry a relative risk of 2.1 times for being associated with at least possible open-angle glaucoma. Screening is advisable, for relatives of patients with glaucoma after the age of 35 years.
3. High intraocular pressure:
Elevated pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) is a major risk factor for glaucoma. The elevated pressure damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss. And is presently the only modifiable risk factor among all.
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