People with myopia are more prone to glaucoma because of the large optic nerve – it can become compressed and atrophied with an increase in intraocular pressure. Ilmira Gazizova, Head of the Ophthalmology Department of the Institute of Human Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a member of the European Glaucoma Association’s Committee for Cooperation with European Countries, told socialbites.ca.
“Myopia (myopia) is also a major scourge of ophthalmology. Its prevalence has increased significantly and there are more cases of moderate to high myopia. These patients have a thin cornea and a large optic nerve. These are factors that predispose to an increase in intraocular pressure and, accordingly, the development of glaucoma. For this reason, myopia patients should be examined more frequently by an ophthalmologist for glaucoma.
Gazizova added that today glaucoma is seen in 3% of Russians in general and in every third over the age of 70. It has no specific symptoms in the early stages, so even if there is no myopia after 40 years, you should see an ophthalmologist once a year.
Without treatment, it is possible to become completely blind with glaucoma in 5-6 years. With treatment, visual impairment can last for decades.
Read more about who else is at risk and how to avoid vision loss from glaucoma – in material “socialbites.ca”.