Glaucoma
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause progressive and irreversible damage the optic nerve. Glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight” because symptoms most often don’t occur until damage is done.
Fortunately, glaucoma is highly treatable if detected early. The key to preventing serious vision loss or blindness from glaucoma is annual, dilated eye examination.
What Are My Options?
The effects of glaucoma are permanent, but with early treatment, the loss of vision can be minimized.
In some patients, damage occurs very slowly and treatment may not be necessary. However, most patients do require treatment, such as eye drops, to prevent or delay loss of vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve is like an electric cable containing about 1.2 million (nerve fibers) and damage to this nerve can cause blind spots in the field of vision. If the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness will occur.
Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness, is estimated to affect 1 of every 50 adults. Although Glaucoma can occur at any age, the risk of developing the disease increases dramatically after the age of 35. Glaucoma is also more likely to develop in people who are severely nearsighted, have a family history of the condition, are diabetic, or are of African American descent. Because the symptoms of early Glaucoma are so slight, the disease often goes unnoticed until permanent vision loss has occurred. However, if detected early and with proper treatment, visual damage can be controlled and vision preserved.
How common is glaucoma?
Worldwide, Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. In fact, as many as 6 million individuals are blind in both eyes from this disease. In the United States alone, according to one estimate, over 3 million people have Glaucoma. As many as half of the individuals with Glaucoma, however, may not know that they have the disease. The reason they are unaware is that Glaucoma initially causes no symptoms, and the loss of vision on the side (periphery) is hardly noticeable.
What causes glaucoma?
Glaucoma is usually caused by an increase of fluid pressure in the eye. The front part of the eye contains clear, nourishing fluid called aqueous which constantly circulates through the eye. Normally, this fluid leaves the eye through a drainage system and returns to the bloodstream.
Glaucoma occurs from an overproduction of fluid or when the drainage system becomes blocked, causing fluid pressure to increase. The high pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, resulting in permanent vision loss. The exact reason the fluid system in the eye stops functioning properly is not completely understood. However, research is constantly being done to further our understanding of Glaucoma.
Am I at risk of getting glaucoma?
Knowing the risk factors for the disease and being screened for it will give you a head start on detecting and treating the disease. Doing so is important because any vision lost in glaucoma patients can not be regained. Unfortunately, everyone is at risk for developing glaucoma, but certain groups have a higher risk, including:
- African-Americans – glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common than in Caucasians
- Hispanic Americans in older age groups
- Eye injury patients
- All individuals who are over the age of 60
- Diabetics or those with high blood pressure
- Those with a family history of glaucoma
- Steroid users – recent evidence links glaucoma and high steroid use
- People with high myopia (severe near-sightedness)
Your best defense is to have regular eye exams and a glaucoma screening test, especially if you fall into a high-risk group.
What are the signs and symptoms of glaucoma?
Glaucoma can progress slowly and those who present with the disease may already have severe vision loss. Consequently, your best defense is to have regular eye exams and a glaucoma screening test, especially if you fall into a high-risk group.
Open angle glaucoma – the most common form of the disease, has no initial symptoms. It isn’t even evident until the optic nerve becomes damaged and peripheral (side) vision is lost through the slow build-up of pressure in the eyes.
Acute closed-angle glaucoma happens more suddenly when a blockage occurs in the normal flow of eye fluid between the iris and the lens. This type of glaucoma is a medical emergency and if not treated immediately, blindness could occur in one to two days. Acute closed-angle glaucoma symptoms include:
- Severe pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Seeing a rainbow halo around lights
Another type of glaucoma is called chronic closed-angle glaucoma. This type is similar to open-angle glaucoma, in that it progresses more slowly and can damage the optic nerve without prior symptoms.
How is glaucoma treated?
The effects of Glaucoma are permanent, but with early treatment, the loss of vision can be minimized. In some patients, damage occurs very slowly and treatment may not be necessary. However, most patients do require treatment, such as eye drops, to prevent or delay loss of vision. Following the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor is extremely important. Without treatment, a gradual loss of vision may occur without you noticing.
Do I need to know anything important before seeing a Glaucoma Specialist?
If you’re having a Glaucoma specialist appointment, it’s helpful to keep these things in mind.
The entire appointment, including waiting time between tests, may take up to 2 hours (or longer). Please prepare yourself and your driver or companion for this. Time spent at this appointment is not wasted time, it is an investment in your eye health.
• Your appointment time for the visit with your doctor may include several tests
• These tests may take 10-20 minutes each (depending on the test)
• The doctor will take the necessary amount of time, depending on the problem, and includes a thorough examination of your eyes and an explanation of the results of your tests and examination.
• All treatment options will be explained and arranged for you after discussion
Appointments with a specialist can be time-sensitive. The doctor may have ordered that you be examined within a specific time frame so as not to allow disease progression. If you cannot keep this appointment, please contact the office as soon as possible.
