Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects nearly one percent of the people in Canada. Initially, glaucoma causes peripheral vision loss. If left untreated, it can lead to a complete loss of vision. Glaucoma is a very serious disease but with routine eye exams and early detection, the visual damage can be minimized.
The cause of glaucoma is not fully understood, but the belief is that there is an increase of pressure inside the eye. Aqueous humour is a fluid which is produced inside the eye. If there is too much production or not enough drainage of the aqueous humour, the pressure inside the eye will increase. This increase in pressure compresses the optic nerve which is responsible for relying visual information to the brain. The tiny nerve fibers that make up the optic nerve are destroyed. Glaucoma can also occur without a significant increase in eye pressure. This is referred to as low tension glaucoma. The belief in low tension glaucoma is that there is poor blood flow to the optic nerve despite a normal eye pressure.
Once again, damage to the nerve fibers occurs.
Who is at risk for developing glaucoma? The number one risk factor is increased eye pressure. The health of the optic nerve is also very important. Any family history of glaucoma can increase chances of developing the disease. Race also plays a role as African Americans are at greatest risk, followed by Hispanics and then Caucasians.
Unfortunately there are very few symptoms associated with glaucoma. Some patients may notice mild vision loss if any at all. Early signs of glaucoma can be detected by your optometrist or ophthalmologist by testing your peripheral vision. This is essential to diagnose glaucoma since it affects peripheral vision first. One type of glaucoma is closed-angle glaucoma. Symptoms will include sudden blurred vision, headaches, nausea, vomiting and severe pain around the eye. Another type is infantile glaucoma which will cause a baby to constantly rub their eyes. The baby will take on a cloudy appearance to their eyes and will also be light sensitive.
How is glaucoma treated? The goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower the eye pressure even in cases of low-tension glaucoma. This is accomplished with several types of pressure-lowering eye drops. Occasionally laser treatment or surgery has to be considered if the drops prove to be ineffective.
It is standard practice for optometrists and ophthalmologists to screen all patients over the age of nineteen for glaucoma. During routine eye examinations we check for glaucoma by measuring eye pressures and assessing both optic nerves. It is advisable for all adults to have an eye exam every one to two years to properly screen for glaucoma and other eye diseases.
A regular eye exam is a key part of good vision health. Use our find an optometrist directory to find an eye doctor near you and to schedule an appointment.
