Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in adults 60 years and over and over and the fourth leading cause of moderate to severe vision impairment. This makes glaucoma the most common cause of irreversible blindness. However, the prevalence of glaucoma is most likely underestimated. Many instances of glaucoma do not get detected, especially under a dense cataract. Moreover, surveys may also not report early conditions (International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, 2021).
Risk Factors
As with many diseases, age is one of the biggest risk factors associated with the development of glaucoma. Those over the age of 40 years old are at greater risk
Other factors include:
- Genetics, or a family history of glaucoma
- Ethnic origin
- African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage are at greater risk
- Health problems including:
- Diabetes, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation, migraines, health that may affect the entire body
- High intraocular pressure
- Farsighted or nearsighted
- Eye injuries
- Blunt injuries that may bruise the eye or injuries that penetrate the eye can damage the eye’s drainage system, leading to traumatic glaucoma
- Long term topical steroid usage
- Thin cornea
- Thinning optic nerve
