Glaucoma: the Number One Cause of Blindness in African Americans

As you age you have to pay more and more attention to your health. Conditions that you didn't worry so much about when you were younger become a concern.

However, in some cases there should be vigilance all through life because of the way a particular condition operates. So it is with glaucoma.

Of course anyone can get glaucoma and it may signal severe conditions and can also be a by-product of conditions. However in this article, we're looking at glaucoma from an entirely different perspective, that of an African American person.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African Americans. One million African Americans have glaucoma but 50% don't know they have it.

African Americans lead all other ethnic groups in being afflicted with glaucoma where it hits earlier and progresses faster.

If you have a family history of glaucoma you have a 20% higher chance of inheriting it.

You are at additional risk for glaucoma if you are over 40, nearsighted, diabetic, hypertensive or if you have used steroids for a long time.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disorder that over time weakens the ability to see and, can even cause blindness. The way that it does this is by destroying the optic nerve which is responsible for taking images from the eye to the brain.

There is no cure for glaucoma although there are treatments and surgeries that can minimize the impact of the disease and even save your sight.

Originally it was thought that glaucoma caused intraocular pressure (IOP) which caused the optic nerve damage but that has been ruled out.

It is especially important for African Americans to get early and regular eye exams, but it is important for everyone to pay attention to this condition.

What are the types of exams that give you a good comprehensive report about your eyes?

There are five tests that combine to give you a complete glaucoma exam.

The tonometry test measures the pressure within the eye or the intraocular pressure.

An ophthalmoscopy or dilated eye exam measures the inside of the eye, particularly the optic nerve.

Perimetry measures one's field of vision.

Gonioscopy checks the angle where the iris meets the cornea where fluid drains from the eye.

Pachymetry measures the thickness of your cornea.

Obviously glaucoma is a formidable condition that can have a devastating impact on a person and everyone is at risk. However if you are African American glaucoma is a condition that is uniquely dangerous to you and considering the fact that 50% of sufferers don't know they have it, you should get the required exams immediately.

References:

"African Americans and Glaucoma," Brochure, Glaucoma Research Foundation
Glaucoma Research Foundation, 1-800-826-6693
www.glaucoma.org