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Many baby boomers are getting older and finding they need glasses because they can't read or see up close as well as they used to. Now, as they age, many are at risk for even greater vision problems, such as glaucoma, which can cause blindness if not caught early.

Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of legal blindness among Americans older than 65, is expected to double its impact in the coming years as the country's 76 million baby boomers age. By the year 2030, twice as many people will be blind as are today because of age-related diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, according to Prevent Blindness America, a national volunteer eye health and safety organization.

About 3 million Americans have glaucoma. At least half do not know they have it because glaucoma - often referred to as the "sneak thief of sight" - usually has no warning signs.

Prevent Blindness America urges people 40 and older to learn about glaucoma and get regular and complete eye exams, which are critical in diagnosing the disease. Glaucoma cannot be prevented or even cured. However, if it is detected before serious symptoms develop, vision loss can be prevented.

"When detected and treated, glaucoma's effects often can be halted or slowed," says Maurice Rabb, M.D., medical director of Prevent Blindness.

Glaucoma can affect all ages. Risk factors include:

• Age 60 and older.
• African-Americans older than age 40.
• Relatives who have glaucoma.
• Diabetes.
• Extreme nearsightedness.

Types of  glaucoma

The different types of glaucoma have certain common features pressure within the eye that is too high for the health of the eye, damage to the optic nerve and visual field loss.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) accounts for 90 percent of all cases, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Other types include closed-angle glaucoma, congenital glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma initially causes a loss of peripheral (or side) vision. However, because patients typically don't have damage in the same spot in each eye, and the brain's ability to integrate what both eyes see into one image, patients don't always notice the vision loss until it is dangerously advanced.

As it progresses, glaucoma may damage the optic nerve to the point that central vision is affected and blindness is inevitable. Thus, early detection and treatment are critical.

Treatments  for  glaucoma

Eye drops, laser surgery and standard surgery are available treatments for glaucoma. "Surgery is more successful now than in the past, and medication is easier to take," Rabb says. "Many drugs have fewer side effects and can be taken less frequently."

Most treatments for glaucoma try to lower pressure in the eye to slow damage to cells and to save sight. A study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology showed for most people, a lower pressure truly does slow the progression of the disease. However, 12 percent of the people studied still had continuing damage to their optic nerves, despite lower pressure.

For  more  information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  vist.