Glaucoma
Treating Glaucoma Right
When it appears that your world is closing in on you, it
could be the Glaucoma. Glaucoma describes an eye disease in
which the optic nerve slowly deteriorates. As this nerve deteriorates,
diminished side or peripheral vision is always the first obvious
symptom. Sadly, by the time the peripheral vision is affected,
Glaucoma has already happened.
This eye disease is a main cause of blindness due to the
fact that once the optic nerve has been damaged there will
be no known treatment capable of repairing it. A build-up
of pressure in the eye generally triggers Glaucoma. If you
wish to focus light and deliver a sharp image to the retina,
the pressure inside the eye must always be maintained so that
the eye can maintain its shape.
In a healthy eye, pressure is regulated by the flow of a
clear fluid known as the aqueous which contains oxygen and
other nutrients delivered by way of the bloodstream. The fluid
which circulates through the eye, it drains and it's continually
replenished.
When the aqueous fluid fail to circulate or drain properly,
pressure inside the eye will build. Other factors which cause
the optic nerve to deteriorate include inadequate blood supply
to the nerve or problems with the structure and/or strength
of the optic nerve fibers.
Signs of Glaucoma
Glaucoma can develop at any age, but the likelihood of it
developing will increase after age 35. As the above mentioned,
the first notable symptom of Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma is
diminished peripheral vision. Most often, this loss occurs
slowly in one eye. The other eye compensates for the damaged
eye which is why the loss is not obvious until the condition
has progressed. Secondary Glaucoma has the same symptoms,
the difference is that, the increased eye pressure most often
results from an eye injury, tumor, infection, drugs or inflammation.
With Acute Closed Angle Glaucoma the symptoms are different.
They tend to include the appearance of halos around lights,
blurred vision, nausea and severe pain. Congenital Glaucoma
is apparent at birth. Abnormal fluid drainage causes excessive
tearing, a cloudy cornea and eyes that are enlarged and that
are sensitive to light.
Usually, those who run a family history of Glaucoma are most
at risk. Diabetics, Afro-Americans and individuals with severe
nearsightedness are also in a high-risk category.
Treatment
Testing for Glaucoma is performed as part of a routine eye
exam. The eye doctor uses a tonometer to examine the pressure
in the eyes. The optic nerve is also evaluated using an ophthalmoscope.
A gonioscope, which is similar to a large magnifying glass,
can check the channels through which the aqueous fluid flows.
If Glaucoma is suspected, the eye doctor will initiate tests
to test peripheral vision.
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