Patients most at risk for Glaucoma
According to the Mayo Clinic, risk factors for glaucoma include people:
- Over 60 years of age (over 40 for Black adults, who face a higher risk earlier)
- Black, Asian, or Hispanic
- Suffering from heart disease, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and high blood pressure
- With a family history of glaucoma
Taking corticosteroid eye drops, experiencing extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness, or possessing thin central corneas also present a higher risk for glaucoma. We monitor patients to stay ahead of any issues that may arise.
Signs of glaucoma
Chronic glaucoma often attacks your vision without leaving any telltale signs. This makes it especially difficult to diagnose without thorough eye exams. We perform dilated eye exams to examine the optic nerve, and we measure your eye pressure (intraocular pressure) with tonometry. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, increased pressure often indicates glaucoma. However, they also note that patients within a normal range of intraocular pressure may develop glaucoma. Fortunately, when managed early, most people can save their sight.
Be aware of such symptoms as:
- Patchy blind spots
- Blurred vision
- Halos surrounding lights
- Severe headaches
- Eye pain
Should you notice any of these, contact Dr. Patel and our team to evaluate you further.
Diagnosing glaucoma
We perform multiple tests to diagnose glaucoma, including:
Ophthalmoscopy
Dilating your eyes, we widen your pupils to examine your optic nerve for any problems.
Perimetry
We shine a light into different regions of your peripheral vision as you follow it with your eyes to detect vision changes over time.
Gonioscopy
Numbing your eyes with drops, we determine if the angle between your iris and cornea is narrow and closed or open and wide. This allows us to pinpoint the type of glaucoma you may possess.
We use these tests, as well as tonometry, which measures eye pressure with a small puff of air or a gentle probe after numbing drops, and pachymetry, which judges corneal thickness, to diagnose glaucoma and other eye issues.
Treating glaucoma
Should we detect glaucoma, we’ve got a variety of ways to treat it, depending upon its severity.
Eye drops
One of the most common treatments for glaucoma is prescription eye drops to lower eye pressure. These either help fluid drain from your eyes or reduce the amount of fluid your eyes produce.
Laser treatments
Laser treatment improves drainage through the eye's own drain and can be used instead of, or alongside, drops.
Surgery
If drops and laser treatment are not enough, we refer you to an ophthalmologist for surgery to protect your vision from further damage.
Protect your eyes naturally
The best thing you can do is safeguard your eyes through timely check-ups, moderate exercise, and protective eyewear. We also suggest several holistic measures to keep your eyes and body healthy, such as:
Maintain a healthy weight
Keep blood sugar on target
Studies show insulin resistance can cause higher eye pressure, a factor for glaucoma.
Eat plenty of greens
Green leafy vegetables contain nitrate, which your body converts to nitric oxide. This helps regulate blood flow and eye pressure.
Reduce your risk of glaucoma today
Nearly 3 million Americans currently have glaucoma, and about half of them do not know it. It’s the leading cause of blindness, next to cataracts, across the globe.
Your first line of defense is a complete eye exam around age 40 and, if you are at higher risk, a dilated exam every one to two years. Visit us even more often if you have a family history of glaucoma. If you notice visual problems that don’t improve with eyeglasses, or wish to schedule a routine exam, contact our knowledgeable team at Classic Vision Care. Call us or book an appointment online today.
What has changed about glaucoma risk and detection since this was written?
The basics of glaucoma have not changed. It damages the optic nerve, usually without early symptoms, and the damage cannot be reversed [2]. What has sharpened is the guidance on who should be checked, when, and how glaucoma is treated. Here is what we follow at our Kennesaw and East Cobb offices.
Age 40 is the new checkpoint. Eye doctors now recommend a complete eye exam around age 40 for all adults, with more frequent exams if you have risk factors [1]. Black adults over 40 and all adults over 60 are at higher risk, as is anyone with a family history of glaucoma [3]. People of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage carry higher risk as well [1].
Half of people with glaucoma do not know they have it. About 3 million Americans have glaucoma, and about half are undiagnosed [3]. There are often no early symptoms [3]. That is why glaucoma detection is part of every comprehensive eye exam here, not a separate add-on.
Your risk list may be longer than you think. Beyond age, family history, and heritage, the list includes high eye pressure, thin central corneas, and nearsightedness or farsightedness [1]. It also includes past eye injury, long-term steroid use, diabetes, migraines, and high blood pressure [1]. More than one risk factor raises risk further [1]. Tell us about every item on this list at your visit, even if it seems unrelated to your eyes.
Diabetes and glaucoma go together. People with diabetes are at higher risk for glaucoma [3]. If you have diabetes, your yearly dilated eye exam checks the retina and the optic nerve in the same visit, at either office.
Treatment has more starting points. Eye drops are still the usual way glaucoma is controlled [2]. Laser treatment for open-angle glaucoma can be used instead of medication or in addition to it, not only after drops fail [2]. We handle glaucoma detection and management in Kennesaw and East Cobb, and we co-manage with ophthalmology when laser or surgery is the right step.
Sudden eye pain is different. Severe eye pain with headache, nausea, blurred vision, and halos around lights can signal an acute form of glaucoma. Treat it as an emergency. Call either office right away or go to the nearest emergency room.
Related reading: yearly dilated eye exam for diabetes, diabetic eye exam.
Sources
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, "Who Is at Risk for Glaucoma?" (published March 4, 2026)
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, "Glaucoma Treatment" (published March 4, 2026)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Glaucoma" (page dated May 15, 2024)
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