Glaucoma - Check for it Regularly

Nobody wants to go blind and unfortunately glaucoma can lead to blindness. That is why it is important to have regular eye exams to determine whether or not you have the disease or are risk of getting it. This eye disease attacks the optic nerve which is why it leads to blindness as the optic nerve is everything to being able to see. It causes excess pressure on the optic never which then damages it and disallows it to function correctly. Avery simple test at your eye doctor can determine if you have the disease and he/she can tell you how to prevent it.

People with glaucoma may not even know they have it because in the early stages there may be no symptoms at all. In fact, experts say that more than half of the people out there with the disease don't even know they have it. That's a lot of people who could end up blind. There is no cure for the problem as of yet but there are medical procedures that can alleviate the effects and lessen the progression of the disease. As with most debilitating disease, early detection is the key factor to alleviating the effects of the ailment.

Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, but certain groups are more at risk than others. For instance people over 60 are far more susceptible to glaucoma than younger people as the optic nerve gets older and degenerates. Africans are 6-8 times more liable to get the disease than Caucasians and it is the leading cause of blindness amongst this group. The disease is also thought to be hereditary so if you have relatives who had it, you need to be tested. Older Hispanics, Asians and users of steroids are also more at risk of glaucoma than other groups. Anyone who is a member of any of these groups should be tested for the disease every one or two years.

Glaucoma can be detected in a simple eye exam and should be treated immediately if discovered. There are four common tests for the disease and all of them are painless and easy to take. Which test is used is usually at the discretion of the doctor and depends on the risk factors of the patient. At this time, the best prevention for the disease is regular eye exams with a professional eye doctor. Early detection is the key.