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Discover the facts about one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S.
 More than four million Americans have glaucoma, but only half of them know it. Learn more about your risk and treatment options.
So, what is glaucoma? It’s a chronic condition in which the fluid pressure in the eye increases, leading to optic nerve damage, nerve fiber damage and vision loss. There is no cure, and vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be restored. Early detection is crucial in order to treat and control it.
Could you be at risk? You may be, if you:
- Have a family history of glaucoma
- Have high eye pressure — this is the only risk factor that can be treated
- Are older than age 60, especially if you are Hispanic
- Are of African descent — you have a 4 to 5 times greater risk of developing glaucoma than Caucasians, with the onset occurring at an earlier age
- Have chronic eye inflammations or a history of trauma to the eye
- Have thinner corneas
- Use steroid medications
- Have systemic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease
Because glaucoma has no early symptoms or warning signs, it’s good to know what to look for and get regular eye exams. Talk with your eye doctor about any questions or concerns you might have about your eye health.
>> Learn more about glaucoma.
Flyer is available in Spanish as well.
For more information on these topics, and other health-related topics and tools, visit myoptumhealth.com.
myOptumHealth offers visitors reliable medical information that is easy to read and understand. You have access to a broad spectrum of health and wellness topics for people at all stages of life, with a focus on health maintenance and disease prevention.
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