What type of glaucoma causes the most blindness in African Americans?

The Leading Cause of Blindness in African Americans Based on data analyzed in 2012, more than 520,000 of Americans with open-angle glaucoma are African-American. Indeed, open-angle glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in African Americans.

Do African Americans Have Better vision?

African Americans have some of the highest rates of vision loss and blindness caused by eye disease — and these rates are getting higher. The good news is that comprehensive dilated eye exams can find many of these eye diseases early, when they’re often easier to treat.

Do African Americans get cataracts?

Blacks are almost twice as likely as whites to develop cataracts, according to a new study published today. Released in the latest issue of Ophthalmology, the study also found that a certain form of the disease, cortical cataracts, developed three times as often among blacks.

Is the leading cause of blindness in the United States?

Cataract. Cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens and is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and the leading cause of vision loss in the United States.

Why are African Americans at a higher risk for glaucoma?

Some of the important findings from this study include the fact that African Americans have thinner corneas than those of European descent. Thin corneas are a known risk factor for glaucoma. Another finding is that Americans of African ancestry had larger optic nerves.

Is glaucoma genetic to black people?

Sharing is caring! Heredity is a primary risk factor for glaucoma, and African Americans have a six- to eight-fold risk for the disease. Glaucoma is a family of diseases that damage the optic nerve, causing vision loss and blindness if left untreated.

What race has the worst eyesight?

The prevalence of hyperopia differed significantly among racial/ethnic groups (P = 0.007), with the highest rate in non-Hispanic white children (11.9%) and the lowest rate in Asian children (5.47%).

Which race has the best eye sight?

As a group, the Aborigines have significantly better visual acuity than the Europeans. This was true for both monocular and binocular vision. Some Aborigines have acuities below the previous postulated threshold levels. Aborigines as a group also have the previous postulated threshold levels.

What are blue cataracts?

Listen. Cerulean cataracts are opaque areas that develop in the lens of the eye that often have a bluish or whitish color. They may be present at birth or develop in very early childhood, but may not be diagnosed until adulthood.

Who is more prone to cataracts?

Cataract is more likely to occur among women. In 2010, 61 percent of Americans with cataract were women; 39 percent were men.

What causes the highest rate of vision loss in the US?

The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness in the U.S. are diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and glaucoma.

Which is the leading cause of blindness in African Americans?

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness among African Americans and Hispanics in the U.S. Open-angle glaucoma is three to four times more common in African Americans than in non-Hispanic Whites. Glaucoma is fifteen times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans than in Caucasians.

Why are African Americans at risk for glaucoma?

African Americans and Hispanics are at increased risk of developing glaucoma. Find out why and learn about important steps that can prevent vision loss from this eye disease. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, but they can be “cured” with cataract surgery.

Who is most at risk for glaucoma blindness?

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness among African Americans and Hispanics in the U.S. Glaucoma is fifteen times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans than in Caucasians. The prevalence of glaucoma rises rapidly in Hispanics over age 65.

Why is the number of people with blindness increasing?

The number of people with visual impairment and blindness is increasing due to an overall aging population. Accordingly, initiatives like Healthy People 2020 Vision aim to improve visual health by reducing visual impairment and blindness in the United States.