Often called \u201cthe silent thief of sight\u201d Glaucoma affects three million Americans today and is the second leading cause of blindness.\u00a0 With no early symptoms or warning signs, it is imperative for people 40 years and older to have yearly examinations.\u00a0 Although there is no cure, Glaucoma can be controlled and vision can be preserved if detected and monitored early on.<\/p>\n

In most cases, glaucoma is associated with higher-than-normal pressure inside the eye \u2014 a condition called Ocular Hypertension. But it also can occur when\u00a0Intraocular Pressure (IOP) is normal. If untreated or uncontrolled, glaucoma first causes peripheral vision loss and eventually can lead to blindness.<\/p>\n

There are several different types of glaucoma the two most common types being chronic open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma.<\/p>\n

Risk Factors For Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma Include:<\/h2>\n

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• Advanced age.<\/li>\n
• Family history of the disease.<\/li>\n
• Higher-than-normal intraocular pressure.<\/li>\n
• Certain ethnic races, particularly those of African descent.<\/li>\n
• Certain diseases or conditions, especially diabetes, farsightedness or nearsightedness, or previous eye trauma or surgery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Closed-angle glaucoma is less prevalent, but is considered a real eye emergency.\u00a0 This type of glaucoma occurs when a patient\u2019s pupil moves or dilates and actually blocks off the drainage angles in the eye. This is considered a medical emergency in which an ophthalmologist should be contacted immediately to avoid any loss of vision.