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Eye care

Q. My mother has glaucoma. What are my chances of getting it? What can I do to prevent it?

A. Individuals whose parents have glaucoma have a much greater risk for the disease and should have annual eye examinations after the age of 18. Currently there are no genetic tests for adult-onset glaucoma, and diagnosis must be made through a comprehensive eye examination.

In general, individuals who are more likely to be at risk for glaucoma are:

• Over age fifty


• Related to someone with glaucoma


• Of African descent


• Very short-sighted.

Perhaps the most important of these is being related to someone with glaucoma. Glaucoma is unusual in people under the age of fifty. It is more common in patients with a strong family history and in those who are very short-sighted. In North America blacks are three times as likely to develop glaucoma as whites of the same age. There is also a slight increase in glaucoma in patients who suffer from diabetes.

Strictly speaking, there is very little a person can do to prevent glaucoma. Herbs, vitamins, drugs and diet have no effect one way or the other (they neither cause nor prevent glaucoma). Regular aerobic exercise, however, has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure, while it has been shown that exercises such as weightlifting can actually increase pressure in the eye, as can playing a wind instrument. Consult with your eye-care professional before undertaking any of these activities if you are at risk for glaucoma.

As a rule, regular testing for glaucoma in at-risk individuals is crucial in detecting the onset of the disease, since it can become very advanced without the patient noticing any symptoms at all. Early detection and prompt treatment are key.

CNIB is a nationwide, community-based, registered charity committed to research, public education and vision health for all Canadians. CNIB provides the services and support necessary for people to enjoy a good quality of life while living with vision loss. To find out more, visit us at www.cnib.ca or call 1-800-563-2642