Health Tip: Know Your Risk for Glaucoma

(HealthDay News) -- Glaucoma is a progressive disease of the eye that eventually causes blindness if untreated. While early glaucoma may not reveal symptoms, the eye is still being damaged by the disease.

Here are some common risk factors, courtesy of the Glaucoma Foundation:

• Being black or Hispanic.
• Being 60 years or older.
• Having family members with glaucoma.
• Being Asian makes you more prone to a specific type called angle closure glaucoma.
• Having a prior eye injury.
• Being diabetic.
• Being nearsighted.
• Having high blood pressure.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: July 11, 2006