The disease usually affects both eyes, and over a period of years the consistently elevated pressure slowly damages the optic nerve. Chronic glaucoma has no early warning signs and the associated loss of peripheral vision occurs so gradually that it may go unnoticed until a substantial amount of damage and vision loss have occurred. The only way to diagnose glaucoma early is through routine eye examinations. Congenital glaucoma, present at birth, is the result of defective development of the fluid outflow channels of the eye. Surgery is required for correction.
Congenital glaucoma is often hereditary.
Risk factors depend on the type of glaucoma. People with a family history of open angle glaucoma have twice the risk of developing open angle glaucoma as those who do not. African-Americans have four times the risk of developing open angle glaucoma as compared to Americans of European decent. Acute , congenital, and secondary glaucoma are much less common than chronic glaucoma. Glaucoma Please read this Important notice .