WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GLAUCOMA
Christiane Tourtet B.A.
November 01, 2008
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the optic nerve of the eye and can result in vision loss and blindness. When the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises then glaucoma occurs. However you can protect your eyes against serious loss of vision with early treatment. There are several forms of glaucoma, but open-angle glaucoma is the most common form.
NORMAL TENSION OR LOW-TENSION GLAUCOMA: People with normal eye pressure, can experience optic nerve damage and narrowed side vision. In some people, medicines can slow the disease by lowering eye pressure of at least 30 percent. However glaucoma can worsen in some other people despite low pressures. This is why a comprehensive medical history is very important in order to be able to identify other potential risk factors, such as low blood pressure that contribute to low-tension glaucoma. The treatment options for low- tension glaucoma are the same as for open-glaucoma, if no risk factors are identified.
ANGLE – CLOSURE GLAUCOMA: People who have this type of glaucoma have a sudden increase in eye pressure, as the fluid at the front of the eye cannot reach the angle and leave the eye, and part of the iris blocks the angle. Symptoms include nausea, severe pain, blurred vision and redness. If you experience these symptoms, you will need to seek treatment immediately, as this is a medical emergency. Go to your doctor, and if your doctor is unavailable, go the nearest clinic or hospital. The eye can become blind in one or two days, if there is no treatment to improve the flow of fluid. Usually medicines and prompt laser surgery can clear the blockage and protect sight.
CONGENITAL GLAUCOMA: Children born with a defect in the angle of the eye that slows the normal drainage of fluid, usually have symptoms that are obvious, such as excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, cloudy eyes. Medicines due to their unknown effects in infants and difficulty to administer are not suggested, and conventional surgery is the usual treatment, as it is effective, safe, and if done promptly, can give children an excellent chance of having good vision.
SECONDARY GLAUCOMAS: Due to complications of other medical conditions these can develop, and are sometimes associated with eye injuries, advanced cataracts, eye surgery, uveitis (eye inflammation) certain eye tumors.
PIGMENTARY GLAUCOMA: Pigmentary glaucoma occurs when the meshwork is blocked showing fluid drainage. This happens when pigment from the iris flakes off. People who have diabetes, can have a severe form, called neovascular glaucoma. In some people, corticosteroid drugs used to treat different types of diseases and eye inflammations can trigger glaucoma. Treatment includes conventional surgery, medicines, and laser surgery.
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some people are at a higher risk than other, and include everyone over age 60, especially Mexicans Americans, people with a family history of glaucoma, and African Americans over age 40.
Studies show that glaucoma among African Americans is about four times more likely to cause blindness than in Caucasians, fifteen times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans between the ages of 45- 54 than in Caucasians of the same age group, and five times more likely to occur in African Americans versus Caucasians.
More risk factors, such as abnormal optic nerve anatomy, thinness of the cornea, high eye pressure, can be revealed by a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Medicines in the form of eye drops can reduce the risk of developing glaucoma by about half, in some people with certain combinations of these high-risk factors.
At the beginning of the disease, there is no pain, no symptoms, and vision stays normal. However, upon progression of the disease, a person with glaucoma, may notice that his or her side vision is gradually failing, and that objects to the side may be missed while objects in front may still be seen clearly. People with glaucoma, who are not treated, will lose slowly their peripheral vision. It will seem to them that they are looking through a tunnel, and straight-ahead vision over time may decrease until there is no vision left. Glaucoma can be detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes, a visual acuity test, visual field test, dilated eye exam, tonometry and pachymetry.
Treatments for glaucoma include medicines, conventional surgery, laser trabeculoplasty, or even a combination of any of these These treatments do not improve sight that have already be lost, but may save remaining vision. In the U.S. a large amount of research is being done to find out what causes glaucoma, and find ways to improve its diagnosis and treatment. The National Eye Institute (NEI) is funding numerous studies to find out what is the cause of increased fluid pressure in the eye. By being knowledgeable about this process, doctors may be able to pinpoint the exact cause of glaucoma and be able to learn better ways to prevent and treat it. The NEI also gives its support to clinical trials of new surgical techniques and clinical trials of new drugs that are promising against glaucoma.
Reference:
National Eye Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health.
© 2008 Christiane Tourtet, all rights reserved.
NORMAL TENSION OR LOW-TENSION GLAUCOMA: People with normal eye pressure, can experience optic nerve damage and narrowed side vision. In some people, medicines can slow the disease by lowering eye pressure of at least 30 percent. However glaucoma can worsen in some other people despite low pressures. This is why a comprehensive medical history is very important in order to be able to identify other potential risk factors, such as low blood pressure that contribute to low-tension glaucoma. The treatment options for low- tension glaucoma are the same as for open-glaucoma, if no risk factors are identified.
ANGLE – CLOSURE GLAUCOMA: People who have this type of glaucoma have a sudden increase in eye pressure, as the fluid at the front of the eye cannot reach the angle and leave the eye, and part of the iris blocks the angle. Symptoms include nausea, severe pain, blurred vision and redness. If you experience these symptoms, you will need to seek treatment immediately, as this is a medical emergency. Go to your doctor, and if your doctor is unavailable, go the nearest clinic or hospital. The eye can become blind in one or two days, if there is no treatment to improve the flow of fluid. Usually medicines and prompt laser surgery can clear the blockage and protect sight.
CONGENITAL GLAUCOMA: Children born with a defect in the angle of the eye that slows the normal drainage of fluid, usually have symptoms that are obvious, such as excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, cloudy eyes. Medicines due to their unknown effects in infants and difficulty to administer are not suggested, and conventional surgery is the usual treatment, as it is effective, safe, and if done promptly, can give children an excellent chance of having good vision.
SECONDARY GLAUCOMAS: Due to complications of other medical conditions these can develop, and are sometimes associated with eye injuries, advanced cataracts, eye surgery, uveitis (eye inflammation) certain eye tumors.
PIGMENTARY GLAUCOMA: Pigmentary glaucoma occurs when the meshwork is blocked showing fluid drainage. This happens when pigment from the iris flakes off. People who have diabetes, can have a severe form, called neovascular glaucoma. In some people, corticosteroid drugs used to treat different types of diseases and eye inflammations can trigger glaucoma. Treatment includes conventional surgery, medicines, and laser surgery.
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some people are at a higher risk than other, and include everyone over age 60, especially Mexicans Americans, people with a family history of glaucoma, and African Americans over age 40.
Studies show that glaucoma among African Americans is about four times more likely to cause blindness than in Caucasians, fifteen times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans between the ages of 45- 54 than in Caucasians of the same age group, and five times more likely to occur in African Americans versus Caucasians.
More risk factors, such as abnormal optic nerve anatomy, thinness of the cornea, high eye pressure, can be revealed by a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Medicines in the form of eye drops can reduce the risk of developing glaucoma by about half, in some people with certain combinations of these high-risk factors.
At the beginning of the disease, there is no pain, no symptoms, and vision stays normal. However, upon progression of the disease, a person with glaucoma, may notice that his or her side vision is gradually failing, and that objects to the side may be missed while objects in front may still be seen clearly. People with glaucoma, who are not treated, will lose slowly their peripheral vision. It will seem to them that they are looking through a tunnel, and straight-ahead vision over time may decrease until there is no vision left. Glaucoma can be detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes, a visual acuity test, visual field test, dilated eye exam, tonometry and pachymetry.
Treatments for glaucoma include medicines, conventional surgery, laser trabeculoplasty, or even a combination of any of these These treatments do not improve sight that have already be lost, but may save remaining vision. In the U.S. a large amount of research is being done to find out what causes glaucoma, and find ways to improve its diagnosis and treatment. The National Eye Institute (NEI) is funding numerous studies to find out what is the cause of increased fluid pressure in the eye. By being knowledgeable about this process, doctors may be able to pinpoint the exact cause of glaucoma and be able to learn better ways to prevent and treat it. The NEI also gives its support to clinical trials of new surgical techniques and clinical trials of new drugs that are promising against glaucoma.
Reference:
National Eye Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health.
© 2008 Christiane Tourtet, all rights reserved.
Print
Email
