Glaucoma.
The silent thief of eyesight.
Glaucoma is a disease in which damage to the optic nerve can lead to blindness. Despite advancements in available treatments, there has not been a cure found yet - which makes this post not only necessary, but extremely important. This disease is one of the leading causes of blindness, only second to cataracts. We need our patients to understand how crucial awareness of this disease truly is, because your eyes and your vision are precious.
Regardless of age, everyone is at risk of developing glaucoma. There are certain factors that will increase the chances of development. Therefore, anyone meeting any number of the following should be sure to get an eye health examination regularly:
· Family History
· African American background
· Diabetes
· Over the age of 45
· Myopia (Nearsightedness)
· Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
· Steroid use
· History / Injury to the eye
Preventing this disease is possible, although once the damage has been done and any amount of vision has been lost, it can not be reversed. This is why it is so important for annual eye health examinations. To preserve vision, one must catch this disease at its beginning stages.
Glaucoma Types, Symptoms and Treatment:
* Open-Angle (accounting for around 90% of all glaucoma cases – per Glaucoma Research Foundation) – caused by slow clogging of drainage canals, develops slowly, has symptoms and damage that are not noticed. Eye pressures are typically one of the first signs, which require regular examinations and awareness. Seeking treatment early to try and prevent complete vision loss is extremely crucial in saving eyesight. As time passes, visual field vision loss is almost guaranteed (outer edges of eyesight).
* Angle-Closure - caused by blocked drainage canals, resulting in high pressures. This disease develops quickly; symptoms and damage are very noticeable and demands immediate medical attention. Angle-Closure Glaucoma onsets quickly and can be very painful and have more than one visible sign that something is wrong. Red eye, painful, high pressures… just to name a few.
* Normal tension, Congenital, Secondary, Pigmentary, Pseudoexfoliative, Traumatic, and Neovascular Glaucoma are also other forms that are rare, but do exist.
Generally glaucoma is treated with eye drops. Sometimes it is treated by pills and occasionally surgery or laser treatments will be given. Once diagnosed with glaucoma, constant follow-up appointments are mandatory so that we may stay on top of the disease. Follow-ups are the key to saving vision if possible.