Glaucoma is the term for a
diverse group of eye diseases, all of which involve
progressive damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is usually,
but not always, accompanied by high intraocular (internal)
fluid pressure. Optic nerve damage produces certain
characteristic defects in the individual’s peripheral (side)
vision, or visual field.
Early detection of open angle Glaucoma is extremely
important, because there are no early symptoms. Routine eye
exams, common after age 45, are a major factor in early
detection. People with a family history of Glaucoma should
be checked at intervals in their 30s to establish a
baseline. Initially, detection is based often on intraocular
pressure readings, but also includes observation of the
optic nerve as well as evaluation of optic nerve function
using visual field tests.
When medication and laser surgery fail to control
progression of Glaucoma, a surgical procedure known as a
filtering operation is recommended to create an artificial
outlet for fluid from the eye, thus lowering intraocular
pressure. Requiring use of an operating microscope and a
local anesthetic, this procedure is performed in the
hospital. If such a procedure is not feasible or has failed,
production of aqueous fluid may be reduced by freezing
(cryoprobe) or laser energy directly applied to the eyeball
over the area where the fluid is produced.
In conclusion, the most helpful advice concerning Glaucoma
is to keep in mind the importance of early detection through
routine eye examination, faithful use of prescribed
medications, and close monitoring by an eye doctor of the
optic nerve, visual fields and pressures.
Between 89,000 and 120,000 people are blind from Glaucoma
yearly. It is a leading cause of blindness, accounting for
between nine and 12 percent of all cases of blindness. The
rate of blindness from Glaucoma is between 93 and 126 per
100,000 population over 40.
Between two million and three million Americans age 40 and
over, or about one in every 30 people in that age group have
Glaucoma. This includes at least one half of all those who
have Glaucoma are unaware of it.
In the vast majority of cases, especially in early stages,
there are few signs or symptoms. In the later stages of
the disease, symptoms can occur that include:
A number of risk factors for the development of Glaucoma
exist. The most important of these include high pressure
inside the eye, advanced age, extreme near-sightedness, or a
family history of Glaucoma.
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