GLAUCOMA
According to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness.
When the optic nerve is damaged by glaucoma vision loss may result. Eye pressure is a major risk factor for optic nerve damage.
Open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms at the beginning, it doesn't cause any pain and vision can stay normal for a time. It can develop in one or both eyes. Later peripheral vision loss will progress.
IF TIME GOES BY AND THE PATIENTS ARE NOT TREATED THEY WILL SLOWLY LOSE THEIR SIDE VISION.
As glaucoma remains untreated, people may miss objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye.
They seem to be looking through a tunnel.
Over time, central vision may decrease until no vision remains.
OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF THE DISEASE AND IT CAN DEVELOP WITHOUT INCREASED EYE PRESSURE.
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but at higher risk than others are:
- African Americans over age 40
- Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
- People with a family history of glaucoma
Some exams can reveal more risk factors, such as high eye pressure, thinness of the cornea, and abnormal optic nerve anatomy.
GLAUCOMA IS ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC DISEASES
if untreated, because the vision lost cannot be cured. The treatment can save your vision or delay its progression.
Glaucoma treatments include medicines, laser trabeculoplasty, conventional surgery, or a combination of any of these.
While these treatments may save remaining vision, they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma.
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