Madison Senior Center

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. It can occur at any age but is more common in older adults. 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 at an advanced stage.

Because vision loss due to glaucoma can't be recovered, it's important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure so a diagnosis can be made in its early stages and treated appropriately. If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented. If you have the condition, you'll generally need treatment for the rest of your life.

Risk Factors

• Having high internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
• Being over age 60
• Being black, Asian or Hispanic
• Having a family history of glaucoma
• Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sickle cell anemia
• Having corneas that are thin in the center
• Being extremely nearsighted or farsighted
• Having had an eye injury or certain types of eye surgery
• Taking corticosteroid medications, especially eye drops, for a long time

For more information visit https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20372839.