What You Need to Know About Glaucoma

Posted under General Health by Don

Elizabeth just turned 75 years old and has had glaucoma for 10 years now. She has been taking three different drops and a medication in a red top, but her eyes do not seem to be much better. She is nervous about this since she cannot see form her left eye. She thinks it is called myopia. She is afraid she is losing her eyesight.

For most sighted people, the thought of going blind is frightening. In the above case, the patient is advised to talk with an ophthalmologist. She needs to find out what all her medications are and reevaluate which ones she needs. Also, she needs to find out what is causing her myopia. One of the commonly used drops for glaucoma may cause it. Furthermore, she needs to determine whether her sight can be corrected with glasses so she can see at least somewhat from that eye.

In glaucoma, the pressure of the fluid inside the eyeball increases when fluid is unable to drain out fast enough. The two types of glaucoma are angle-closure and open-angle. Angle-closure (also called acute glaucoma) is more serious but less common. It usually has a rapid onset (within a few days) and accompanying severe pain in the eye and head, sometimes severe enough to cause nausea and vomiting. Severe and permanent loss of vision may occur within a week after onset, unless treated.

Primary acute angle-closure glaucoma is usually treated by surgery known as laser peripheral iridotomy, after the pressure inside the eyeball has been lowered by acetazolamide and other drugs. Secondary acute angle-closure glaucoma (less severe than primary, but recurring) may be controlled by the drugs only, depending on the progress and severity of the disease.

Open-angle or chronic glaucoma is one of the most common types of glaucoma. It is characterized by a more gradual rise in pressure inside the eyeball and a slower progressive loss of vision. It is common after age 30 and is usually related to family history. You also have a higher risk if you have diabetes or are African-American.

Most cases of chronic glaucoma can be controlled with eye drops that relieve the pressure inside the eye. The medication that has been standard treatment for many years is pilocarpine, but many drugs are now available. Remember that theses drugs can have side effects.

If medical treatment is not effective, surgery may be recommended. Laser trabeculoplasty is often recommended first. In this case, the area where the fluid drains – the trabeculae – has holes punched through it with laser. If this is not successful, cutting away part of the trabeculae by a surgical incision may be required.

Fortunately, early diagnosis and treatment can usually assure lifelong useful vision. Again, it is highly recommended to talk with your doctor to develop your best treatment plan. Also, discuss in detail what you should expect to happen to your vision in the future.