Glaucoma may be present at birth in the case of infants who are born with underdeveloped drainage canals. This rarely occurs but it usually corrected successfully with surgery. Diseases such as diabetes can increase glaucoma risk. A correlation has also been shown between open-angle glaucoma and those suffering from hypothyroidism, leukemia and arthritis. Those who use corticosteroids may increase their risk for this condition if taking them over a long period but may reverse the damage of oral corticosteroids by discontinuiing their use.
Early detection is very important in diagnosing and treating glaucoma.
Tests for eye pressure, optic nerve damage and peripheral vision should be conducted. Although readings from eye pressure tests may not signal a problem, they should always be included. If an individual has the type of glaucoma that does not stem from elevated IOP, no treatment is available. After the optic nerve fibers are destroyed, the damage is irreversible. For those who suffer from pressure-induced glaucoma, various treatments exist.