1. According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly 2.2 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with glaucoma. By the year 2020, this figure is expected to rise to 3 million.

2. Glaucoma occurs three times as frequently in African-Americans than in non-Hispanic whites. Furthermore, a similar gap exists when it comes to visual impairment risk related to glaucoma.

3. Likewise, Asian or Hispanic adults are more at risk of a receiving a glaucoma diagnosis.

4. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP), a condition characterized by fluid pressure within the eye, is a common precursor to glaucoma.

5. IOP is believed to be associated with about seven out of ten glaucoma cases.

6. Heavy use of steroids can possibly increase the risk of glaucoma.

7. Glaucoma risk tends to be higher among those who have incurred a previous eye injury.

8. Glaucoma can be one complication stemming from diabetes.

9. Age plays an important role in glaucoma risk; this disease is more likely to afflict those over the age of 60.

10. Like many other serious medical conditions, glaucoma frequently runs in families.