|
|
Glaucoma
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, especially for older people. But loss of sight from glaucoma is preventable if you get treatment early enough.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries the images we see to the brain. Many people know that glaucoma has something to do with pressure inside the eye. The higher the pressure inside the eye, the greater the chance of damage to the optic nerve.
The optic nerve is like an electric cable containing a huge number of wires. Glaucoma can damage nerve fibers, causing blind spots to develop.
Often people don't notice these blind areas until much optic nerve damage has already occurred. If the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness results.
Early detection and treatment by your ophthalmologist are the keys to preventing optic nerve damage and blindness from glaucoma.
What Causes Glaucoma?
Clear liquid called the aqueous humor, flows in and out of the eye. This liquid is not part of the tears on the outer surface of the eye. You can think of the flow of aqueous fluid as a sink with the faucet turned on all the time.
If the "drain pipe" gets clogged, water collects in the sink and pressure builds up. If the drainage area of the eye, called the 'drainage angle', is blocked, the fluid pressure within the inner eye may increase, which can damage the optic nerve.
How Is Glaucoma Detected?
Regular eye examinations by your ophthalmologist are the best way to detect glaucoma. An ophthalmologist is a medical eye doctor.
During a complete and painless examination, your ophthalmologist will:
- Measure your intraocular pressure (tonometry)
- Inspect the drainage angle of your eye (gonioscopy)
- Evaluate any optic nerve damage (ophthalmoscopy)
- Test the visual field of each eye (perimetry)
Some of these tests may not be necessary for every person. You may need to repeat these tests on a regular basis to determine if glaucoma damage is increasing over time.
Who Is At Risk For Glaucoma?
High pressure alone does not mean that you have glaucoma. Your ophthalmologist puts together many kinds of information to determine your risk for developing the disease.
The most important risk factors include:
- Age
- Near-sightedness
- African ancestry
- A family history of glaucoma
- Past injuries to the eye
- A history of severe anemia or shock
Your ophthalmologist will weigh all of these factors before deciding whether you need treatment for glaucoma, or whether you should be monitored closely with regular examinations for early detection of glaucoma should it develop.
How Is Glaucoma Treated?
As a rule, damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Eye drops, pills, laser and surgical operations are used to prevent or slow further damage from occurring.
Periodic examinations are very important to prevent vision loss due to glaucoma. Because glaucoma can worsen without you being aware of it, your treatment may need to be changed over time.
Loss Of Vision Can Be Prevented
Regular medical eye exams may help prevent unnecessary vision loss. You should have an examination:
Every 3 to 5 years if you are age 39 and over.
Every 1 to 2 years if:
- A family member has glaucoma
- You are of African ancestry
- You have had a serious eye injury in the past
- You are taking steroid medications
|
|
|
|
|
