Web: cnib.ca Glaucoma Email: [email protected]/ontario CNIB Contact Centre: 1-800-563-2642

What is it?

Glaucoma involves damage to the optic nerve, often caused by high pressure inside the eye, although occasionally people with normal eye pressure may also develop glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually painless and has no immediate symptoms. Over time the disease may cause loss of peripheral (side) vision, followed by “tunnel” vision or complete loss of vision. Since the disease progresses over many years, some people do not realize they have it until vision loss is permanent and irreversible.

Risk factors and prevention

Although the causes of glaucoma are not yet known, researchers have identified a number of risk factors: Elevated eye pressure: People with higher than average pressure within the eye have an elevated risk of developing glaucoma. Family history: People with a family history of glaucoma are at a much higher risk for open-angle glaucoma. Age: It is common to develop glaucoma after age 40 and the risk increases for people over 60. Ethnicity: Open-angle glaucoma is more common among people of African descent. Closed-angle glaucoma is more common among people of Asian or Inuit descent. Myopia: People who are nearsighted have an increased risk of developing glaucoma.

Treatment

Early detection can prevent severe vision loss or blindness. Primary open-angle glaucoma can be controlled if it is detected early. Anyone who has experienced a loss of vision should ask their eye doctor for a referral to CNIB.

Prevalence of glaucoma

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of vision loss in seniors in Canada (after age-related macular degeneration).  271,200 Canadians have glaucoma – and CNIB estimates only half of them know, believing their vision loss is just a natural consequence of aging.  The total number of Canadians with glaucoma increases by 5,600 per year.  104,000 Ontarians are living with glaucoma (an estimated 52,000 know it)

seeing beyond vision loss  In 2015, 660 new patients registered for service with CNIB in Ontario.  CNIB does not know the percentage of glaucoma patients who progress to a diagnosis of low vision after being unsuccessful with treatment.  Glaucoma tends to run in families, but a CNIB survey found that almost half of Canadians (47 per cent) do not feel well-informed about their family history of the disease. In fact, only one-third of Canadians (33 per cent) have spoken to their families to learn if glaucoma could be a hereditary concern.

For more information, please contact: Shannon Simpson, Manager Communications, Manager ON O: 1-888-233-1232 ext. 5147/ C: 226-377-2801 [email protected]