You have likely heard a little about glaucoma, the treatment of the illness, and maybe even some of the more common risk factors associated with this eye condition. There is even a possibility that you have discussed glaucoma with you optometrist if you are an aging adult. However, there is a good chance that you do not know all of the risk factors for glaucoma. The reason that you do not is that there are some risk factors that are rarely talked about. Here are five risk factors for glaucoma that everyone should know about.
1. Long-Term Use of Some Medications - Most people do not realize that using some forms of medication for long periods of time can actually put them at risk for developing glaucoma in the latter years of their life. For example, allergy sufferers who take corticosteroids for long periods have an enhanced risk of eye conditions, especially glaucoma.
2. Traumatic Eye Injuries - Injuries to the eye can increase retinal pressure, and retinal pressure is directly related to the inadvertent development of glaucoma. If you have had injuries to your eye, such as a blow that left you with a dislocated lens, you should be even more persistent about regular eye exams.
3. Other Medical Conditions - Diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, can put you in a higher risk bracket than people without these illnesses. The health of the body overall often plays a major role in the health of the eyes and poor eye health is a contributing factor of glaucoma.
4. Insufficient Fluid Drainage of the Eye - If you have issues with fluids not adequately draining from your eyes, a condition commonly referred to as aqueous incapacity, it increases ocular pressure over time. This excess fluid and pressure can cause damage to the ocular nerves, leaving you more prone to seeing the development of glaucoma.
5. Farsighted Vision - People who have been diagnosed as being farsighted tend to be more at risk for glaucoma, according to GetEyeSmart.org. Your eyes should be carefully monitored if you are farsighted to keep tabs on other indicators that could come up as you age.
The health of your eyes is crucial and as you age, you must pay even more attention to signs and symptoms of problems. Learning risk factors of specific conditions, such as glaucoma, will help you be better prepared to catch symptoms early. Make sure you talk openly with your optometrist at a place like North Central Eye Associates Inc if you think you may beat risk of developing glaucoma.
Share28 May 2015
Hi there, I am Sophie Moye. I would like to help you learn what to expect during your yearly eye exam. Whether you have perfect vision or need corrective lenses, you must have an eye exam performed on a regular basis. The eye exam also identifies health problems that show symptoms through your eye condition. Furthermore, your eye doctor can create a vision baseline that can be used to gauge loss or improvement in the future. I hope to discuss the tools and techniques used to complete the eye exam. I will also discuss symptoms that eye doctors look for during the exams. My site will cover all of the health conditions that can be diagnosed using an eye exam. Thank you for your time.
