World Glaucoma Week 12th – 18th March

Nadelia | March 13, 2023 | Health | No Comments

WORLD GLAUCOMA WEEK 12th – 18th March.

WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?

Word Glaucoma week is awareness created to remind the world about glaucoma and its effect. It is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old. But blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment.

Glaucoma is a condition that damages your eye‘s optic nerve, and it gets worse over time. It’s often linked to a buildup of pressure inside your eye. Glaucoma tends to run in families. You usually don’t get it until later in life.

There are two main types of glaucoma:

Open-angle glaucoma — The most common form of glaucoma, this type is caused by damage to the filter in the eye’s drainage canals

Angle-closure glaucoma — This type of glaucoma is caused by a rapid blockage of the eye’s drainage canals due to a closed or narrow angle between the iris and cornea where the filter is located.

Neovascular glaucoma — A type of glaucoma associated with poorly controlled diabetes and other conditions that damage the blood vessels in the body.

World Glaucoma Week: Glaucoma Causes

However, Many factors lead to glaucoma. While increased eye pressure is the only known modifiable risk factor known at this time, is it not a cause. Glaucoma can also develop with normal eye pressure.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

However Anyone can develop glaucoma. However, some people are at higher risk than others. Risk factors for glaucoma include:

Race. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for people of African descent.
Age. People age 60 and older are more at risk for developing glaucoma.
Family history. People with a family history of glaucoma are more likely to develop the disease, especially those with a sibling who has the condition.
High fluid pressure inside the eyes. People with high fluid pressure inside the eyes are at an increased risk.
Decreased corneal thickness. People with a thinner cornea are at greater risk of glaucoma.