One of the most serious threats to your sight is glaucoma, a complex group of eye diseases that damages the optic nerve.
Often called the "silent thief of sight," primary open-angle glaucoma typically has no early warning signs or pain. About 50% of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it until permanent vision loss has already occurred.
Board-certified ophthalmologist Stephen Khachikian, MD, believes that protecting your sight starts with understanding your personal risks and keeping up with regular eye exams, especially as you get older. He provides advanced eye care for patients in and around Rapid City, South Dakota, to help ensure you maintain clear, healthy vision.
While many people visit Dr. Khachikian for life-changing procedures like LASIK or cataract surgery, he also emphasizes the importance of routine eye health evaluations to catch silent threats like glaucoma early.
The primary risk factors for glaucoma include advanced age, family history, high myopia (severe nearsightedness), and metabolic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.
Demographic data shows significantly higher rates of the disease and more advanced vision loss in populations of African or Hispanic descent. A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in 2024 found that non-Hispanic Black adults have an absolute glaucoma prevalence of 3.15%, compared to 1.42% for non-Hispanic White adults.
Your refractive error, or how your eye focuses light, also plays a major role. If you have severe nearsightedness, the physical stretching of your eye can weaken the structural support around your optic nerve, making it much more vulnerable to damage.
Metabolic syndrome – which includes high blood pressure and high blood sugar – is another key contributor, raising the relative likelihood of developing glaucoma by 34%.
Yes, you can develop glaucoma even if your intraocular pressure (eye pressure) is within the normal range. This condition is known as normal-tension glaucoma, and it occurs when the optic nerve is damaged despite normal pressure readings.
Some people mistakenly believe that glaucoma is solely a "high eye pressure" disease. In reality, normal-tension glaucoma is a common variation where progressive optic nerve damage and peripheral vision loss occur under normal pressure conditions. This is why a simple pressure check isn’t enough to protect your sight.
To accurately detect these subtle changes, Dr. Khachikian utilizes advanced diagnostic tools during a comprehensive exam. High-resolution structural imaging, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), allows him to view microscopic details of your optic nerve and retinal layers.
This technology is noninvasive, and it helps identify early thinning and structural changes in your eye long before you notice any changes in your visual field.
Because early-stage glaucoma is completely asymptomatic, proactive eye care is your best defense. At Stephen Khachikian, MD, safeguarding your overall eye health is always our top priority.
Don’t wait for vision changes to occur before taking action. If you’re over 40, you have a family history of eye disease, or you haven’t had an eye exam recently, Dr. Khachikian is here to help. Please schedule a consultation today to protect your sight for years to come.
