A staggering four million Americans currently have glaucoma, a condition that causes increased pressure to the optic nerves within the eyeball and gradually leads to complete blindness. But perhaps even more surprising is the fact that a great majority of those afflicted have no idea they have glaucoma. This is due to the fact that the condition causes almost no discomfort or vision issues during the early stages.
Unfortunately, glaucoma can destroy your vision before you realize there’s a medical problem. That’s why it’s imperative to be vigilant of the following risk factors that make one prone to the disease…
1. Advanced Age
As with many other health conditions, advanced age puts an increased risk on any person for developing glaucoma, particularly people who are 60 and older. Unfortunately, for some people of African-American descent, the risk increases much earlier (i.e., around the age of 40). People who fall into the high risk age group should start getting an eye exam on a regular basis, about once a year.
