Glaucoma
Q. My mother has glaucoma. What are my chances of getting it?
What can I do to prevent it?
A. Individuals whose parents have glaucoma have a much greater
risk for getting the disease. Currently, there are no genetic
tests for adult-onset glaucoma and diagnosis must be made
through a comprehensive eye examination.
In general, individuals who are more likely to be at risk for
glaucoma are:
- over age fifty
- related to someone who has glaucoma
- of African descent
- very short-sighted
Perhaps the most important of these risk factors
is being related to someone with glaucoma. Glaucoma is unusual
in people under the age of fifty. It is more common in patients
with a strong family history and in those who are very
short-sighted. In North America, people who are black are three
times as likely to develop glaucoma as people who are white and
of the same age. There is also a slight increase in glaucoma in
patients who suffer from diabetes.
Strictly speaking, there is very little a person can do to
prevent glaucoma. Herbs, vitamins, drugs and diet have no effect
one way or the other (they neither cause nor prevent glaucoma).
Regular aerobic exercise, however, has been shown to reduce
intraocular pressure, while it has been shown that exercises
such as weightlifting can actually increase pressure in the eye,
as can playing a wind instrument. Consult with your eye care
professional before undertaking any of these activities if you
are at risk for glaucoma.
As a rule, regular testing for glaucoma in at-risk individuals
is crucial in detecting the onset of the disease, since it can
become very advanced without the patient noticing any symptoms
at all. Early detection and prompt treatment are key.
The Expert: Dr. Graham E. Trope is
Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto. He has
directed the Glaucoma Service at University Health Network since
1984 and is the past Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of
Toronto.
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intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis,
or treatment. This material is for informational purposes only. Always
seek the advice of your eye care or other health care professional with
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