Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment

WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the United States. Glaucoma is not an infection, and it’s not contagious. It’s a condition which pressure created by the fluid in one or both eyes builds up to an abnormally high level .

WHY DOES GLAUCOMA HAPPEN?
Glaucoma develops when the production of aqueous humor (fluid in the eye) increases or the aqueous humor does not drain adequately. The pressure rises in the eye. Nerve fibers and blood vessels in the optic nerve become compressed and can be damaged or destroyed. Consequently, the transmission of visual messages to the brain is interrupted. The result is impaired vision and, ultimately, blindness.

TYPES OF GLAUCOMA
There are different varieties of glaucoma, all of which involve a build-up of pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma can sometimes result from other eye conditions such as inflammation or injury. Rarely, infants are born with the disease. However, chronic and acute glaucoma are by far the most common form.

SPECIFIC TESTS FOR DIAGNOSING GLAUCOMA
The diagnosis of glaucoma is confirmed by an array of diagnostic tools that allow your eye doctor to identify signs of glaucoma long before you have any symptoms. Your eye doctor may begin with tonometry, which measures the pressure in your eye. Another important test checks your side (peripheral) and central vision. Your doctor may examine the interior structures of you eye using gonioscopy. If glaucoma is diagnosed, your progress will be monitored during regular examinations.

CHRONIC GLAUCOMA
Of the various kinds of glaucoma, the chronic type is by far the most common. Chronic glaucoma works slowly, and may destroy side vision as well as central vision. Decreased drainage of fluid, or increased production of fluid, is to blame for the slow rise in pressure that damages the optic nerves of both eyes and eventually causes blindness.

TREATING CHRONIC GLAUCOMA
Chronic glaucoma is treated with eyedrops or pills that reduce the pressure by increasing the drainage of the aqueous humor or by decreasing its production. Sometimes a combination of eyedrops and oral medications are prescribed. Your doctor will tailor your prescription to meet your particular needs. If your pressure cannot be controlled with medications, either trabeculoplasty (laser surgery) or trabeculectomy (traditional surgery) may be recommended.

TREATING ACUTE GLAUCOMA
Acute glaucoma is the second major form of the disease. It is an emergency condition. Eyesight can be lost permanently unless the pressure is relieved within a few hours with medication and surgery (laser iridotomy or surgical iridectomy). Acute glaucoma is also known as "narrow-angle" or "closed angle" glaucoma because the angle where the iris and the cornea meet becomes so narrowed that the trabecular meshwork is blocked. This stops the drainage passageway and the pressure climbs to dangerous levels. An acute attack usually occurs without warning and, unlike chronic glaucoma, it usually is accompanied by symptoms and affects one eye initially. Pain in the eye and face, impaired vision, rainbow-colored halos around lights, headache, nausea, and vomiting are common. Elective surgery to prevent the attack in your other eye may be recommended.

Fortunately, there is something you can do to protect your eyesight from glaucoma. Your best defense is to have regular eye examinations, especially if you’re over forty.

Glaucoma can’t be cured, but with regular visits to your ophthalmologist and faithful use of specially prescribed medications, it can be controlled. Early detection and treatment are the only ways to prevent permanent loss of vision.

For more information, contact a physician.