Glaucoma is a complex eye disease in which circulation of the fluid in the eye is disrupted. The pressure within the eye, or the intraocular pressure, builds causing progressive damage to the optic nerve located at the back of the eye. The optic nerve is responsible for sending visual signals to the brain. Glaucoma is characterized by dark patches or areas of blindness in your visual field that will continue to increase in size unless the disease is managed and controlled. Once damage occurs it is permanent and vision cannot be restored. Glaucoma is a chronic disease and must be monitored for life.
There are few signs or symptoms in the early stages of glaucoma to make you aware that you may have the disease.
In the later stages you may experience some of the following:
- Gradual loss of peripheral vision
- Inability to adjust to darkened rooms
- Difficulty focusing on objects that are close
- Rainbow coloured rings or halos around lights
Complete eye exams are definitely necessary to determine if you have glaucoma or are at risk. There are several eye exams that will be performed by your ophthalmologist to establish if you have glaucoma. They include measurement of your intraocular pressure, evaluation of your optic nerve and a visual field test to measure your peripheral vision. If these are conclusive your ophthalmologist will discuss next steps or further evaluations that may be necessary.
Several eye exams can be performed to determine if you have glaucoma. These may include measurement of your intraocular pressure, evaluation of your optic nerve and a visual field test to measure your peripheral vision. During a visual field test your doctor will set you up at a closed-in monitor screen. There will be flashes of light and you identify when you see those flashes. This allows your doctor to determine what you can see in your direct and peripheral vision and if there are any areas of concern. During the evaluation of your optic nerve you will be given eye drops that enlarge your pupils and you will be asked to look into a diagnosis machine. This allows your doctor to assess your optic nerve and other structures of your eye. They may take pictures for further evaluation to determine if your optic nerve is healthy or damaged. Finally your eye pressure will be measured. You will be given drops to numb your eyes and then a tonometry (or pressure sensing) test will be performed using an air puff or touch method to determine your eye pressure. If any of these evaluations indicate you have some visual damage then your ophthalmologist will discuss next steps or further evaluations that may be necessary.
Eye pressure, also called intraocular pressure (IOP), is created by fluid that is continually produced by your eyes. This fluid creates pressure and gives your eyes their shape. The pressure is determined by the ability of the eye to produce the fluid and its ability to drain that fluid at the same constant rate. It is normal for all people to have IOPs that are within a healthy range. If the eye is producing too much fluid or the drainage system is not functioning properly this will lead to a higher IOP and may cause damage to your vision. Some people do have higher IOP levels normally and do not show any signs of glaucoma while others have normal level IOP and are diagnosed with glaucoma.
No. Glaucoma is not usually painful. Glaucoma is often called the “sneak thief of sight” because it normally has no warning signs except for gradual loss of eyesight over time. If there is, however, a sudden spike in intraocular pressure then you will feel pain and you should see your doctor immediately.
For most patients, high intraocular pressure (IOP) is the number one risk factor that increases the chance of vision loss. In addition to high IOP, some people are more at risk to develop glaucoma than others. The risk increases further if you have any of the following risk factors:
- Advanced age – 65 years or older
- High blood pressure
- Family history of glaucoma
- Diabetes
- Near sightedness (myopia)
- African American ethnicity
- Hispanic ethnicity
- A previous eye injury or trauma
There are many treatment options for glaucoma depending on the type of glaucoma present in your eye. These treatments include eye drop medications, surgery, laser surgery, or other minimally invasive procedures that can reduce your eye pressure and risk for vision loss caused by glaucoma. You will need to speak with your doctor about a treatment program suited to you, based on your clinical profile and needs.
Although you cannot prevent or control all of the risk factors associated with glaucoma, finding out early that you have high intraocular pressure is the key. That means having regular eye examinations to monitor the health of your eyes. If glaucoma is diagnosed listening to your eye doctor and getting proper treatment sooner rather than later are the best ways to prevent loss of eyesight caused by glaucoma.
There are many treatment options for glaucoma depending on the type of glaucoma present in your eye. These treatments include eye drop medications, surgery, laser surgery, or other minimally invasive procedures that can reduce your eye pressure and risk for vision loss caused by glaucoma. You will need to speak with your doctor about a treatment program suited to you, based on your clinical profile and needs.
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form of glaucoma. In healthy eyes, fluid is continually being created within the eye and drained to keep eye pressure at a normal range. In POAG, the fluid inside the eye is not able to drain as well as it should because the drainage system becomes blocked over time. This chronic blockage causes the fluid inside the eye to continually build causing damage to the optic nerve and sustaining an intraocular pressure that is too high for the continued health of the eye. This type of glaucoma is a major concern around the world because it is progressive in nature and can sneak up on you without any warning.
Many individuals, typically over the age of 60, are diagnosed with cataracts; the clouding of the lens in the eye. Many individuals over the age of 60 are also diagnosed with glaucoma. Unfortunately, both of these can be part of the natural aging process but they are not related to each other. To clarify further, cataracts affect the lens at the front of the eye causing your vision to become cloudy. Glaucoma affects the optic nerve at the back of the eye which sends signals to the brain. We are not able to repair or replace the optic nerve. Remember, cataracts can be removed and replaced so vision can be improved. Glaucoma can only be controlled and once vision is lost, it cannot be regained.
There is no cure for glaucoma at this time. Early diagnosis and compliance to treatment are important to preserving eyesight. Lost vision cannot be regained. Glaucoma is a chronic disease and must be monitored for life. Your eye doctor will help you to control your eye pressure with regular eye exams and continued treatment.
