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June 15, 2004 |
| Vision Health
Glaucoma Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to the optic nerve, a nerve bundle consisting of more than one million fibers that connect to the retina. This disease can result in pain, vision impairment, and blindness. The damage can occur if there is elevated pressure inside the eye. In most cases, the intraocular pressure (pressure on the optic nerve) exists because fluid is not exchanged properly at the point where the cornea and iris meet. This is referred to as open-angle glaucoma and is the most common form of glaucoma, affecting more than one million Americans. As is the case with other eye diseases, women with glaucoma can be symptom-free for many years before they know there is a problem. This is unfortunate, because the disease can be halted if treated during its early stages. As the disease progresses, a woman may have difficulty reading or sewing, experience a loss of peripheral vision, or notice spots or halos around lights. Serious symptoms that deserve immediate medical attention include intense pain around the eyes, swollen or cloudy corneas, and blurry vision. Glaucoma can be detected during an eye exam with either an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The practitioner will measure your inner-eye pressure with a device called a tonometer. Higher-than-normal pressure within the eye does not always indicate glaucoma, so your eye doctor will look for other signs. He or she will test your visual acuity (how well you see at different distances) and visual field (side or peripheral vision). He or she will also dilate your pupils so that your optic nerve can be examined for damage and evaluated. While you can never fully cure glaucoma or reverse its damage, you can avoid further deterioration of the optic nerve with proper treatment. Medication can control the amount of fluid in the eyes or improve the draining of that fluid. Laser surgery may be necessary to drain the eye if the pressure build up is severe. Conventional surgery may also be indicated, especially if the fluid in the eye isn’t draining from the existing opening. These approaches have high rates of success in treating chronic glaucoma. Nutritional therapies, such as supplementing with vitamin C, are also helpful in controlling the pressure. Finally, if your glaucoma is brought on by diabetes, you should do everything in your power to stabilize your blood sugar. Even though you can’t prevent glaucoma, slowing the disease is possible through early detection. Make sure you get regular eye checkups (at least once every two to three years) and make sure to follow your eye doctor’s advice. If you are in a high-risk group for glaucoma, you should have your eyes checked more often. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you are at increased risk for developing glaucoma if you:
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