Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United
States, especially for older people. Loss of sight is often
preventable if you get treatment early enough.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that carries images we
see to the brain. The optic nerve is made up of a huge number of
nerve fibers, like an electric cable containing a huge number of
wires. Glaucoma damages these nerve fibers causing 'blind spots' to
develop with gradual loss of one's peripheral or side vision.
It is important to know that glaucoma has something to do with
the pressure inside the eye: the higher the pressure, the greater
the chance of damage to the optic nerve.
Over the years, research has shown that a variety of other
factors contribute to the process, such as poor circulation,
diabetes, nutrition, genetics, etc. In spite of continuing study,
the single most important thing in preventing blindness is lowering
the eye pressure.
Chronic open angle glaucoma is the most common form in this
country. It occurs as a result of aging with the drainage angle of
the eye becoming less efficient with time and the pressure within
the eye gradually increasing.
Chronic open angle glaucoma damages vision so gradually and
painlessly that one is unaware of the trouble until the optic nerve
is already badly damaged.
A variety of medicated eye drops and even pills can be taken to
lower the pressure in the eye. Some of these drugs can also
interfere with or magnify other medications that a person is taking
for other medical problems.
Sometimes eye pressure does not respond well enough to eye drops
and your ophthalmologist will perform laser surgery or a filtering
procedure to achieve the desired result.
Every person who has glaucoma has a course unique to them - like
fingerprints. Their treatment is very individualized and
customized.
