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3300 East South St. #105
Long Beach, CA 90805
(562) 531-2020
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3801 Katella Ave. #130
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
(562) 598-7728
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Home >> Other Treatments >> Glaucoma
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms. Experts estimate that half of the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it. Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain.
There is no cure for glaucoma—yet. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma, among other factors. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease.
It was once thought that high pressure within the eye, also known as intraocular pressure or IOP, is the main cause of this optic nerve damage. Although IOP is clearly a risk factor, we now know that other factors must also be involved because even people with “normal” levels of pressure can experience vision loss from glaucoma.
Are You at Risk For Glaucoma?
Everyone is at risk for glaucoma. However, certain groups are at higher risk than others. People at high risk for glaucoma should get a complete eye exam, including eye dilation, every one or two years.
The following are groups at higher risk for developing glaucoma.
- African-Americans: Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans. It is six to eight times more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians.
- People Over 60: Glaucoma is much more common among older people. You are six times more likely to get glaucoma if you are over 60 years old.
- Family Members with Glaucoma: The most common type of glaucoma, primary open angle glaucoma, is hereditary. If members of your immediate family have glaucoma, you are at a much higher risk than the rest of the population. Family history increases risk of glaucoma four to nine times.
- Hispanics in Older Age Groups: Recent studies indicate that the risk for Hispanic populations is greater than those of predominantly European ancestry, and that the risk increases among Hispanics over age 60.
- Asians: People of Asian descent appear to be at some risk for angle closure glaucoma. Angle closure glaucoma accounts for less than 10% of all diagnosed cases of glaucoma. Otherwise there is no known increased risk in Asian populations.
- Steroid Users: Some evidence links steroid use to glaucoma. A study reported in the Journal of American Medical Association, March 5, 1997, demonstrated a 40% increase in the incidence of ocular hypertension and open angle glaucoma in adults who require approximately 14 to 35 puffs of steroid inhaler to control asthma. This is a very high dose, only required in cases of severe asthma.
- Eye Injury: Injury to the eye may cause secondary open angle glaucoma. This type of glaucoma can occur immediately after the injury or years later. Blunt injuries that “bruise” the eye (called blunt trauma) or injuries that penetrate the eye can damage the eye’s drainage system, leading to traumatic glaucoma. The most common cause is sports-related injuries such as baseball or boxing.
Other Risk Factors
Other possible risk factors include:
•high myopia (nearsightedness)
•diabetes
•hypertension
•Central corneal thickness less than .5 mm.
Treating Glaucoma
Depending upon the type of glaucoma, treatment may include medication, usually prescription eyedrops, or surgery to lower the pressure in the eye and prevent further damage to the optic nerve. While there is no cure as yet for glaucoma, early diagnosis and continuing treatment can preserve eyesight. We carefully monitor patients who are at risk for glaucoma or have early warning signs of glaucoma. We work closely with your doctor of optometry to monitor eye health and pressure to minimize the risk of damaging effects from glaucoma and to treat early stage glaucoma.
*Information courtesy of the Glaucoma Research Foundation. For more information and a free booklet about glaucoma, visit the Glaucoma Research Foundation and Click Here: http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/literature.php