You have just left the ophthalmologist’s office, and you are trying to remember just what POAG means in your medical report: primary open-angle glaucoma.

POAG usually occurs when intraocular pressure has gradually increased over time. Because POAG refers to primary, the cause is not identifiable. In the United States, POAG is the most common form of glaucoma, and it is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Black Americans. Globally, POAG is the second leading cause after cataracts.

There is strong evidence that intra-ocular pressure (IOP)- related mechanisms of optic nerve damage are the most important risk factor for the progression of POAG and remain the only known modifiable risk factor. The prevalence of POAG does increase with age and has been found in patients with diabetes and in those with a family history.

Visual loss from glaucoma is irreversible, so prevention is a key strategy. It has been recommended that people over forty years of age receive a baseline eye examination to determine any underlying characteristics and risk factors. This is recommended because the majority of patients with POAG are asymptomatic. Patients are usually symptomatic only late in the disease process, when they become aware of a constricted visual field or blurred vision. Because the vision loss begins with your peripheral vision, it may not be noticeable for a long time.

The goal of therapy is to prevent further deterioration of vision from the disease progression. Your eye doctor can diagnose POAG using a series of tests. These tests might be suggested if you have any risk factors for POAG even if you don’t have symptoms. These include:



· Having high intraocular pressure

· Being aged 60 or older

· Having Black or Latin American ancestry.

POAG management guidelines include regular eye examinations, medications to lower IOP, laser therapy, surgery, lifestyle modifications that promote overall eye health, and, most importantly, adherence to your physician's treatment. Eye health experts recommend yearly eye exams for everyone over age 6. The only way to ensure healthy vision and determine whether an eye condition is present is with regular eye examinations.