Current Course Topic:
Glaucoma is a disease that can lead to blindness or loss of vision. It is caused by damage to the eye's optic nerve. If detected and treated early, permanent damage can be minimized or even avoided. Once damages occurs, however, it cannot be reversed.
There are many types of glaucoma. The most common form is open angle glaucoma, also called chronic glaucoma.
Open angle glaucoma is caused by high pressure in the eye, which damages the optical nerve and impairs vision. Increased eye pressure does not always mean you will get glaucoma, but it does increase your risk. Another type of glaucoma is low-tension or normal tension glaucoma, which occurs when the optic nerve is damaged despite seemingly normal pressure levels. Treatment is the same as open angle glaucoma. Closed-angle glaucoma is also common, caused when the iris and lens essentially stick together, preventing fluid flow from the eye.
Glaucoma can also occur as a result of an injury such as being hit in the eye by a baseball. This is called secondary glaucoma.
Showing the area of the eye that the following two examples are representing.
| At first, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms. It causes no pain, and vision stays normal. |  |
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If glaucoma is untreated, vision slowly worsens. Peripheral vision (to the sides) is usually the first to deteriorate. |
| If glaucoma remains untreated, people may miss objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye. |  |
If treatment is not given, vision reduces until no vision remains.
Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes.
There are many tests that can be done by your doctor or eye care professional to detect glaucoma. Usually intraocular pressure tests and visual field tests are performed in combination to determine the eye's pressure and the pressure's affect on the optic nerve. Photographs of the optic nerve may also be taken to determine the health of the optic nerve. These simple tests can ensure that the disease is diagnosed early, so it can be treated before permanent damage is caused.
There is no cure for glaucoma. Damage done to the optic nerve is permanent. There are, however, many treatment options that can minimize the effect and prevent further damage. Treatments include eye drops, laser trabeculoplasty, or conventional surgery. These treatments are often used together.
Medication can be used to reduce eye pressure, preventing further damage to the optic nerve. Eye drops are the most common type of medicine. Pills may also be used.
Laser trabeculoplasty is a treatment performed by a doctor or eye care professional. A laser machine is used to improve the drainage in the eye. This is a longer-term solution than medicine, but the effect will reduce over time.
In conventional surgery, a small piece of tissue is removed from the eye, which creates a new opening for the fluid to leave the eye.
From 35 on, everyone should have regular check-ups for the early signs of glaucoma.
Tom was an active and healthy 52 year old man. He never had problems with his vision.
Tom went for a regular health check-up with his doctor, who recommended that he have tests done to see if he was affected by glaucoma.
The doctor explained that people are often not aware that they have glaucoma until permanent damage has already occurred. Vision can slowly get worse, and people do not notice a sudden change until a lot of vision is lost.
Tom agreed to have the pressure of his eyes checked and to have a visual field test.
Once the tests were done, the doctor explained that Tom had increased eye pressure and that some damage had been done to his optic nerve. Fortunately, his glaucoma was detected early so he only lost a small amount of his peripheral vision.
The doctor recommended that Tom use eye drops to control his eye pressure.
The doctor suggested waiting to see how the medication controlled the problem before deciding whether laser surgery was necessary.
Tom was surprised that he needed to take medicine because he had no problems with his vision and did not have any pain. Glaucoma, however, is a sneaky disease that causes such gradual changes that the patient does not realize that their vision is deteriorating.
Tom now returns for regular check ups with the doctor. He has not had any problems with his vision and continues to use eye drops as prescribed by the doctor.