What You Need to Know about Glaucoma
In 2014, a
general census of American Health reported that over three million
individuals suffer from Glaucoma. Over 80% of these victims are
senior citizens over the age of 40, leading many to label Glaucoma as
an “older person’s disease”. While this isn’t entirely
incorrect, anyone is capable of developing one of the many variations
of Glaucoma. Eye
doctors in Brooklyn, NY have collected a data to help provide
patients at risk with information on how to prepare for and contend
with depreciating vision and optical health.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is not just one disease, but
actually a collection of diseases that cause damage to the optic
nerve. This results in varying levels of vision loss, ranging from
blurriness to complete blindness. In the most common variety, Open
Eye Glaucoma, fluid that typically drains in and out of the anterior
chamber of the eye fails to travel properly and collects. Since the
fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye rises to a level that
may damage the optic nerve. Thankfully, it is possible to prevent
severe vision loss is Glaucoma is detected and treated early.
What are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?
Detecting Glaucoma in its earliest
stages can be fairly difficult, as the symptoms do not make
themselves apparent. There is no pain, no vision loss, and doesn’t
cause a physical change in the patient. Over time, the patient will
begin to lose sight in the periphery (along the edges) of their field
of vision. A common sign of developing Glaucoma is being incapable of
noticing things approaching you from the side, due to the peripheral
vision being clouded. This tunnel vision will continue to affect the
patient’s sight, the cloudy or darkened areas encroaching further
towards the center, until complete blindness.
How is Glaucoma Found in a Patient?
In order for Glaucoma to be detected, a
patient must undergo a series of comprehensive dilated eye exams.
These include, but may not be limited to:
- Visual Acuity Test
- Field of Vision Test
- Tonometry (“Eye Pressure Test”)
- Pachymetry (“Cornea Thickness Test”)
What are Treatments for Glaucoma?
While it is impossible to cure Glaucoma
entirely, and as the blindness it causes is permanent, its
progression can be slowed. Reactive treatments include medicines,
laser therapy, traditional surgery, or a combination of any of these.
While these treatments may go a long way toward saving the patient’s
remaining vision, they cannot improve eye sight already lost due to
glaucoma.