Open Angle Glaucoma (Cont.)

Causes and Risk Factors of Open Angle Glaucoma

Open angle glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. However, glaucoma research scientists are not sure of the exact cause or causes of open angle glaucoma. They do know that although anyone can get open angle glaucoma, some people are at higher risk. People who are at higher risk for open angle glaucoma include:
 
  • African Americans over age 40
  • Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
  • People with a family history of glaucoma
  • People with diabetes.
     
Among African Americans, studies show that open angle glaucoma is:
 
  • Five times more likely to occur in African Americans than in Caucasians
  • About four times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans than in Caucasians
  • Fifteen times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 than in Caucasians of the same age group.
     

Symptoms of Open Angle Glaucoma

For open angle glaucoma, a person usually has no symptoms in the beginning. For this type of glaucoma, there is no pain, and vision stays normal.
 
However, as the open angle glaucoma progresses, a person with open angle glaucoma may notice the following symptoms:
 
  • Gradually failure of side vision (object in front may be clear, but objects to the side may be missed)
  • Narrowed vision
  • Blindness.
     
These symptoms are not sure signs of glaucoma. Other eye problems can also cause these symptoms. Anyone with these possible glaucoma symptoms should see an eye care professional, because only an eye care professional can diagnose and treat the problem.
 
(Open Angle Glaucoma Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD