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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.
- 1-Glaucoma is a leading cause
of blindness
- Glaucoma can cause blindness if it is left
untreated. And unfortunately approximately 10% of people with glaucoma
who receive proper treatment still experience loss of vision.
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- 2-There is no cure (yet) for
glaucoma
- Glaucoma is not curable, and vision lost cannot
be regained. With medication and/or surgery, it is possible to halt
further loss of vision. Since glaucoma is a chronic condition, it must
be monitored for life. Diagnosis is the first step to preserving your
vision.
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- 3-Everyone is at risk for
glaucoma
- Everyone is at risk for glaucoma from babies to
senior citizens. Yes, older people are at a higher risk for glaucoma but
babies can be born with glaucoma (approximately 1 out of every 10,000
babies born in the United States).
Young adults can get glaucoma, too.
African-Americans in particular are susceptible at a younger age.
- 4-There may be no symptoms to
warn you
- With open angle glaucoma, the most common form,
there are virtually no symptoms. Usually, no pain is associated with
increased eye pressure.
Vision loss begins with peripheral or
side vision. You may compensate for this unconsciously by turning your head
to the side, and may not notice anything until significant vision is lost.
The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is to get tested. If you
have glaucoma, treatment can begin immediately.
Types of
Glaucoma
The two main types of glaucoma are
primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), and angle closure glaucoma.
These are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), or
pressure inside the eye. When optic nerve damage has occurred despite a
normal IOP, this is called normal tension
glaucoma. Secondary glaucoma refers to any case in which another disease
causes or contributes to increased eye pressure, resulting in optic nerve
damage and vision loss.
- Four Common Tests for
Glaucoma
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- Regular glaucoma check-ups include two routine
eye tests: tonometry and ophthalmoscopy.
- 1-Tonometry
- The tonometry test measures the inner pressure of
the eye. Usually drops are used to numb the eye. Then the doctor or
technician will use a special device that measures the eye’s pressure.
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- 2-Ophthalmoscopy
- Ophthalmoscopy is used to examine the inside of
the eye, especially the optic nerve. In a darkened room, the doctor will
magnify your eye by using an ophthalmoscope (an instrument with a small
light on the end). This helps the doctor look at the shape and color of
the optic nerve.
If the pressure in the eye is not in
the normal range, or if the optic nerve looks unusual, then one or two
special glaucoma tests will be done. These two tests are called perimetry
and gonioscopy.
- 3-Perimetry
- The perimetry test is also called a visual field
test. During this test, you will be asked to look straight ahead and
then indicate when a moving light passes your peripheral (or side)
vision. This helps draw a “map” of your vision.
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- 4-Gonioscopy
- Gonioscopy is a painless eye test that checks if
the angle where the iris meets the cornea is open or closed, showing if
either open angle or closed angle glaucoma is present.
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