Eye Disease: The Atrial Fibrillation Link to Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve and is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old. While anyone can get glaucoma, those at higher risk include African Americans over age 40, everyone over age 60 especially Mexican Americans, and people with a family history of the disease. Blindness can often be prevented with early treatment.
Link with Atrial Fibrillation: Glaucoma may be related to ischemia (when your heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen) and has been linked with Atrial Fibrillation. Among A-Fib patients, glaucoma is found especially among those who are female, 60+ years old, take the medication Warfarin and have high blood pressure.
Risk May Be Dormant
Patients may be at risk of glaucoma for years but not develop any signs. Then something changes abruptly, such as developing atrial fibrillation, and the glaucoma-related damage begins to occur.
What Patients Need to Know
When you have Atrial Fibrillation, you should be tested for glaucoma regularly (most ophthalmologists will include a glaucoma test as part of your regular eye care).
if you fall into one of the high-risk groups for the disease, make sure to have your eyes examined through dilated pupils every one to two years by an eye care professional.
See the dentist too: Besides regular visits with your eye doctor, A-Fib patients should see their dentist regularly, too! See my article about the link between A-Fib, inflammation and gum disease: Brush & Floss! Is Oral Hygiene Linked to A-Fib?