What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is today’s leading cause of blindness in America. Glaucoma refers to abnormally high fluid pressure within the eye. Over time, this pressure can damage the optic nerve and the blood vessels that nourish the retina. As the optic nerve fibers are damaged, the quality and amount of information transmitted to the brain diminishes, causing loss in vision.

Damage can occur so slowly that the person is not aware of the vision loss. Vision loss usually becomes more and more severe until irreversible blindness occurs.

Who gets glaucoma?

According to the National Society for the prevention of Blindness, one in 50 Americans over the age of 35 and three out of every 100 over the age of 65 have glaucoma. There is a hereditary tendency for the development of the disease in some families, especially among African Americans.

People at higher risk include those with diabetes or those with a family history of glaucoma. Those at risk should have their eyes checked regularly by an eye doctor.

Causes and Treatments

What causes glaucoma?

No one knows the exact cause of glaucoma. Usually it occurs when the normal drainage passages that allow fluid within your eyes to drain become blocked. This results in fluid pressure build up in the eye increasing the pressure on the optic nerve and retina. An infection, injury, or tumor in or near the eye may also cause the intraocular pressure to rise.

Can glaucoma be prevented?

The most common type of glaucoma cannot be prevented, but early detection and treatment can reduce the chances of damage to the eye and loss of sight by controlling the intraocular pressure.

Can glaucoma be cured?

There is no known cure for the most common type of glaucoma. In most cases, it can usually be controlled with one of four treatments: medications, conventional surgery, laser surgery, or drainage implants.

TREATING GLAUCOMA:

Medication in the form of eyedrops or tablets taken in precise amounts, on a regular schedule, is usually the first treatment option. Lasers also have been used to treat glaucoma. Laser surgery for glaucoma requires eyedrops for anesthesia and only takes about 15 minutes. When medications and lasers fail to control rising intraocular pressures, surgery using powerful microscopes and tiny instruments to open the drainage channels may be an option. Drainage implants are another surgical option. These tiny, pressure sensitive, unidirectional valves open and close with the changing intraocular pressure.

Will treatment restore vision?

Unfortunately, when glaucoma causes vision loss, it is usually permanent and cannot be restored. This is why regular preventative eye examinations by your opthamologist are so important.

Don’t let glaucoma sneak up on you!

Have your intraocular pressure checked regularly by your eye doctor.