Glaucoma Symptoms and Risk Factors

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases creating damages to the optic nerves. The most common cause of glaucoma is interocular pressure inside of the eye that creates this eye disease.

Out of all eye diseases, glaucoma is the second eye disease that causes a person to go blind. Glaucoma is one of these eye diseases that is very quiet, gradually stealing sight. So you may not even know you have it until it is into stages that are advanced.

That is why yearly eye exams are of the utmost importance. The measurement of pressure in the eye is vital in determining whether or not you have any glaucoma.

The symptoms of glaucoma are, (1) vision loss that is gradual, and (2) your peripheral vision is steadily lost. If you are having what is known as acute angle-closure glaucoma, you will have more severe symptoms. These symptoms are those such as, (1) eye pain is severe, (2) sick to the stomach and vomiting, and, (3)vision that is suddenly diminished and you don't see much light, and see halos around lights, and (4) bloodshot eyes.

When you have this severe form of glaucoma that is more sudden, it is sometimes from injury to the eyes, an inflammation process in the body, tumor, or diabetes.

It is vitally important to see your eye doctor frequently when you are diagnosed with glaucoma. This is the only way to keep on top of treatments and vision problems resulting.

The risk factors of having glaucoma number a few. One of them is due to advancement of age. Those who are 60 or older are more at risk. Sometimes your ethnic background can maybe play a certain role. It seems that African-Americans are more likely to get glaucoma than are Caucasians. Also, if you have a family history of glaucoma, it poses a risk for development with a genetic link than without.

Diabetes poses a risk to eye health anyway, and one of the things it can cause is glaucoma through too many high glucose levels.

People that have increased pressure back behind the eyes are also at risk.

If you are using corticosteroid medications, this can be damaging to eye health. Corticosteroids are known for causing secondary glaucoma.

Treatments for glaucoma are getting better over the last many years. There are now several treatment options for this eye disease. But your best bet of all, is eye examinations to be aware of it in the first place in beginning stages.