Glaucoma can damage your vision so gradually that you may not notice any loss of vision until the disease is at an advanced stage. That is part of the reason why it is the second leading cause of blindness. Early diagnosis and treatment can minimize or prevent optic nerve damage and limit glaucoma-related vision loss. So it is important to get your eyes examined regularly, and make sure your eye doctor measures your intraocular pressure.

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It is important to be aware of risk factors associated with glaucoma. These factors include

• Elevated Internal Eye Pressure (intraocular pressure): If your intraocular pressure is higher than normal, you're at increased risk of developing glaucoma, though not everyone with elevated intraocular pressure develops the disease.
• Age: Everyone older than 60 is at increased risk of glaucoma. For certain population groups such as African-Americans, however, the risk is much higher and occurs at a younger age than that of the average population. If you're African-American, ask your doctor when you should start having regular comprehensive eye exams.
• Ethnic background: African-Americans are five times more likely to get glaucoma than are Caucasians, and they're much more likely to experience permanent blindness as a result. Mexican-Americans and Asian-Americans also face an increased risk.
• Family history of glaucoma: If you have a family history of glaucoma, you have a much greater risk of developing it. Glaucoma may have a genetic link, meaning there's a defect in one or more genes that may cause certain individuals to be unusually susceptible to the disease. A form of juvenile open-angle glaucoma has been clearly linked to genetic abnormalities.
• Medical conditions: Diabetes and hypothyroidism increase your risk of developing glaucoma.
• Other eye conditions: Severe eye injuries can result in increased eye pressure. Injury can also dislocate the lens, closing the drainage angle. Other risk factors include retinal detachment, eye tumors and eye inflammations, such as chronic uveitis and iritis. Certain types of eye surgery also may trigger secondary glaucoma.
• Myopia (Nearsightedness): Being nearsighted increases the risk of developing glaucoma.
• Prolonged Corticosteroid use: Using corticosteroids for prolonged periods of time appear to put you at risk of getting secondary glaucoma. This is especially true if you use corticosteroids eye drops.