How Glaucoma Can Develop Without You Knowing It

No one wants to spend time on medical appointments when nothing seems wrong. However, these visits are how you can detect potential issues in the earliest and most treatable stages — especially with your eyes.

In reality, progressive eye diseases like glaucoma develop slowly over time. And, when such problems occur, they often don’t affect your vision until they’re more advanced — when your vision may already be permanently compromised.

Unfortunately, doctors can’t restore vision lost to glaucoma. That’s why it’s crucial to catch the disease in its early stages, before damage sets in. 

Our ophthalmology team at E. Joseph Nadji, MD, in Santa Monica, California, specializes in corneal health, using advanced techniques to diagnose and treat glaucoma, so you can avoid vision loss. Let’s take a closer look at how having regular comprehensive dilated eye exams can help you preserve your eyesight at every age. 

What you should know about glaucoma

Fluid within the eye helps keep it healthy.

It moves to the front of your eye and through your pupil — this is the dark center portion of the eye. From there, the fluid drains through passageways between your iris — the colored area of the eye — and the cornea.  

The cornea is the protective coating on top of the pupil and iris. 

When you have glaucoma, the drainage canals in your eye don’t function properly, which prevents the fluid from draining. As fluid builds up, it creates pressure within your eye. 

Over time, this elevated pressure damages the optic nerve, which helps control your vision.

Since the most common form of glaucoma happens slowly over several years, people often don’t realize their vision is changing until the disease has already reached later stages. 

At that point, peripheral vision is often affected, followed by loss of central vision. Glaucoma is second only to cataracts as the most frequent cause of blindness worldwide.  

Understanding your risk for glaucoma

Researchers aren’t certain why some eyes don’t drain properly. However, they’ve identified risk factors for glaucoma. If you fall into any of these categories, it’s vital to have regular eye exams. Dr. Nadji and our team can also offer guidance on frequency based on your individual risk factors.

Aging 

The chances of developing glaucoma increase with age, and those over 60 are more at risk than younger people. 

Genetics

In addition to age, another leading factor for glaucoma involves genetics. If you have a close family member with glaucoma — especially a sibling — you’re more likely to get it. Individuals who have a sibling with glaucoma are 10 times more likely to develop glaucoma than people whose siblings don’t have the eye disease.

High blood pressure 

Do you have high blood pressure? Believe it or not, that increases the pressure in your eyes, too — which increases your chances of glaucoma. If you have conditions like hypertension, heart disease, or diabetes, it’s important to have your eyes checked regularly. 

Ethnicity

While anyone can develop glaucoma, it’s more common in Black people. Black individuals are five times more likely to have this disease than people of other races. This risk increases even more in those who have high blood pressure, diabetes, or nearsightedness. 

Thin corneas

The protective cornea on the eye can thin, putting a person at higher risk of glaucoma. This can happen for various reasons, from inflammation or age to genetics. Fortunately, we can often counteract this risk factor with glasses or contact lenses. 

Finding solutions for glaucoma 

If you have glaucoma, Dr. Nadji and our team can develop a personalized treatment strategy. 

Sometimes, this involves taking nutritional supplements and putting special eye drops in your eyes every day. However, oral medications, laser surgery, or microsurgery could also provide solutions. 

Don’t put your vision at risk — schedule an eye exam to detect problems like glaucoma in their earliest stages. Call E. Joseph Nadji, MD, at 424-275-6586 today, or book an appointment online at your convenience.