What causes primary open angle glaucoma?

If the blood flow to the nerve is good, the nerve can be protected from the effects of the pressure. If the blood flow is poor in conditions such as orthostatic hypotention (low blood pressure when moving from a sitting or supine to a standing position) or heart disease.

Who gets it and who is at risk?
Primary open angle glaucoma is inherited in a multi-factorial manner:

- High myopia – very short sighted people
- Increasing age
- Diabetics
- Black people
- High blood pressure problems
- Certain eye conditions like retinitis pigmentosa

Can it be prevented?
The disease itself cannot be prevented. However, damage to the eye from the disease can be prevented if it is diagnosed early and treated correctly. Therefore all people who are at increased risk for the disease require regular eye examinations.