THIS YEAR, WORLD GLAUCOMA WEEK IS MARCH 10-16, 2024.
WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage your eye’s optic nerve, slowly leading to vision loss and blindness. The direct cause of nerve damage isn’t well understood. However, glaucoma is often associated with increased eye pressure and other risk factors.
Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be treated with medication and surgery. Your eye doctor will monitor the progression of the disease through regular check-ups.
Many people aren’t familiar with the risk factors or effects of glaucoma, even though the condition affects more than 75 million globally. Initiatives such as World Glaucoma Day and World Glaucoma Week are helping to raise awareness and educate the public.
RISK FACTORS
Glaucoma can affect anyone, but some people have certain risk factors that make them more likely to develop the condition. These risk factors include:
- Having high intraocular pressure (IOP)
- Being 40 years of age or older
- Having a family history of the condition
- Having diabetes
- Having thin central cornea tissue
- Having heart disease or high blood pressure
Different types of glaucoma can also come with additional risk factors, including race/ethnicity, refractive errors, other eye and systemic conditions, long-term steroid use, eye injury and more.
Knowing your risk of developing glaucoma is important because there is currently no cure for the disease. If you believe you are a glaucoma suspect — someone at higher risk of developing glaucoma — schedule a comprehensive eye exam and raise your concerns with your eye doctor. Early detection (and treatment, if necessary) is crucial to maintaining your eyesight and preventing future vision loss.
It’s also a good idea to learn more about glaucoma if any of your friends or family members have the disease. Your knowledge can help you understand their struggles and the best ways to care for them if they need help.
DID YOU KNOW? Some babies are born with congenital glaucoma.