Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over the age of 40. According to the American Health Assistance Foundation's National Glaucoma Research program, 2.2 million people have the disease, with another 3.3 million persons expected to acquire glaucoma by the year 2020. It is estimated that as many as 120,000 people have been blinded by the disease. Interestingly, up to 50% of those affected by glaucoma may not even realize that they have the disease. This is because glaucoma is a slowly progressive eye disease that does not present with visual symptoms until it has advanced nearly 40%.
Glaucoma is descibed as a progressive optic neuropathy, or a disease of the optic nerve. More specifically, glaucoma develops as a result of irreversable damage to the optic nerve head, which is located in the back of the eye. If enough optic nerve fiber bundles are damaged, irreversible vision loss takes place.
The causes of glaucoma are varied and many types of glaucoma exist. Most commonly however, glaucoma results from increased fluid intraocular pressure (IOP) over a protracted period of time, typically over the course of many years. Most susceptible to this constant tension is the optic nerve, which over time loses it's battle with the eye's aqueous fluid. This is known as open angle glaucoma. Closed angle glaucoma develops when the eye's fluid pressure rises to extremely high levels as a result of complete blockage of it's drainage angles. This can be painful and may lead to blindness within 24 hours if not treated immmediately. Yet a third type of glaucoma, known as normal tension glaucoma, can develop with seemingly adequate IOP's. This type of glaucoma is the most perplexing from a practitioner's point of view.
The risk factors for glaucoma include older age, race (African American, Asian, Native American, & Hispanic's are at greater risk), a prior family history of glaucoma, cortico-steroid or cortisone use, eye trauma, and having diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
The visual symptoms of glaucoma don't occur for many years, but over time peripheral or side vision becomes diminished, followed by a loss of central vision. The goal in treatment is to reduce the pressure within the eye, which is typically accomplished with eye drops. In cases of unrelenting glaucoma, surgery may be neccessary.
Glaucoma is descibed as a progressive optic neuropathy, or a disease of the optic nerve. More specifically, glaucoma develops as a result of irreversable damage to the optic nerve head, which is located in the back of the eye. If enough optic nerve fiber bundles are damaged, irreversible vision loss takes place.
The causes of glaucoma are varied and many types of glaucoma exist. Most commonly however, glaucoma results from increased fluid intraocular pressure (IOP) over a protracted period of time, typically over the course of many years. Most susceptible to this constant tension is the optic nerve, which over time loses it's battle with the eye's aqueous fluid. This is known as open angle glaucoma. Closed angle glaucoma develops when the eye's fluid pressure rises to extremely high levels as a result of complete blockage of it's drainage angles. This can be painful and may lead to blindness within 24 hours if not treated immmediately. Yet a third type of glaucoma, known as normal tension glaucoma, can develop with seemingly adequate IOP's. This type of glaucoma is the most perplexing from a practitioner's point of view.
The risk factors for glaucoma include older age, race (African American, Asian, Native American, & Hispanic's are at greater risk), a prior family history of glaucoma, cortico-steroid or cortisone use, eye trauma, and having diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
The visual symptoms of glaucoma don't occur for many years, but over time peripheral or side vision becomes diminished, followed by a loss of central vision. The goal in treatment is to reduce the pressure within the eye, which is typically accomplished with eye drops. In cases of unrelenting glaucoma, surgery may be neccessary.
Everyone should be examined regularly for the presence of glaucoma, so schedule a comprehensive eye exam with your optometrist every year.
Yours in eye health,
Kevin L. Crosier, OD
www.crosiereyeassociates.vpweb.com
kevinlcrosier@msn.com
(303) 457-6805
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