Glaucoma Risk Factors
The Orange County glaucoma specialists at Harvard Eye Associates check all patients for the presence of glaucoma during eye exams. It is important to check eye pressure at every appointment because the disease can surface at any time.
There are certain risk factors that may increase your likelihood of developing the disease such as:
- Age (risk increases after age 60)
- Elevated eye pressure
- Family history of glaucoma
- African or Spanish-American
- Farsightedness or nearsightedness
- Past eye injuries
- Thinner central corneal thickness
Systemic health problems including migraines, low blood pressure, sleep apnea, thyroid disease, history of blood transfusions.
Our doctors weigh all of these factors before deciding whether you need treatment for glaucoma or whether you should be monitored closely as a glaucoma suspect. If you are a suspect, this means your risk of developing glaucoma is higher than normal and you may need to have regular eye exams to detect the early signs of damage to the optic nerve.
Schedule an eye exam in Laguna Hills or San Clemente with us today, especially if you fall into any of the risk factor categories for glaucoma.
