About Our Practice
WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?
Glaucoma is an important cause of blindness.It is the most frequent cause of blindness and affects all races. Glaucoma causes progressive loss of the peripheral vision and may affect the central vision late in the course of the disease. Visual loss occurs so slowly that affected individuals are not aware that they are losing their vision.
WHAT CAUSES GLAUCOMA?
Glaucoma is usually caused by high pressure within the eye. Pressure elevation within the eye causes damage to the optic nerve which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. The eye may have increased pressure due to an obstruction of the normal outflow of fluid from the eye. Fluid within the eye normally is drained from a structure in the front part of the eye called the “angle”. Open angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma, occurs without visible obstruction of the angle. Closed angle glaucoma, which occurs less frequently, is due to a narrowing of the angle and decreased flow of fluid through the narrowed angle. In either case, the fluid builds up within the eye and causes pressure to rise. This pressure can be measured by an eye doctor. Depending upon how high the pressure is, the optic nerve may be damaged over time. In open angle glaucoma, this may take many years. In angle closure glaucoma, which may be acute and accompanied by severe pain and loss of vision, the nerve may be damaged in several hours as the pressure can rise to extremely high levels.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE GLAUCOMA?
The only way that glaucoma can be detected is by routine visits to an eye doctor. As a routine screening for glaucoma, eye doctors will check your eye pressure and examine your optic nerve in order to detect early changes in the nerve that may be seen in glaucoma. There is a “cup” within the optic nerve which may become enlarged due to nerve damage from glaucoma. If the doctor suspects that you have glaucoma due to elevated eye pressure or an abnormal nerve, a visual field test may be ordered. The visual field test examines the peripheral vision, which is damaged earliest in glaucoma.
HOW CAN GLAUCOMA BE PREVENTED?
The most effective method for preventing loss of vision due to glaucoma is to see your eye doctor for routine screenings. People who have family members with glaucoma are especially at risk for developing glaucoma themselves.
HOW IS GLAUCOMA TREATED?
Open angle glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops which lower the pressure in the eye or which help fluid to get out of the eye. There are also oral medications which will lower the eye pressure. Laser surgery may also be helpful in opening the drainage channels within the angle. Closed angle glaucoma is treated with eye drops or laser surgery to try to open the angle. In some people, eye surgery will be necessary in order to create a “filter” to allow fluid to exit from the eye.
Once diagnosed with glaucoma, treatment will usually be continued for life. In some cases, especially in closed angle glaucoma, surgery may be curative. Open angle glaucoma is usually not “cured,” but can be treated in order to slow and hopefully prevent noticeable loss of vision.
