Glaucoma Facts
- Three million Americans have glaucoma, but only half know they’re affected.
- Most types of glaucoma are not curable, however, we are able to successfully manage the majority of cases and halt vision loss.
- Glaucoma is a chronic disease that must be followed and monitored for life.
- Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, though traditionally it is seen in older individuals.
- Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States and the first leading cause of preventable blindness.
- Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans, and the leading cause of blindness among this group.
- African Americans ages 45–65 are 14 to 17 times more likely to go blind from glaucoma than Caucasians with glaucoma in the same age group.
- It is estimated that there are 65 million cases of glaucoma worldwide.
Risk Factors for Glaucoma
- Increasing age
- Race (African-American>Latin American>Caucasian)
- Family history
- Steroid treatment
- History of eye injury
- Thin corneas
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- High nearsightedness or farsightedness
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