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Glaucoma: Catch It Early!The second-leading cause of blindness can be controlledIt’s a condition that eventually can blind you, yet it can be controlled with something as simple as eye drops if detected early. That’s the irony of glaucoma. What makes early detection tricky is that of the 3 million Americans who have glaucoma, only about half realize it.Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases resulting in gradual vision loss. The cause is still unknown, says ophthalmologist Houman Ahdieh, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, but glaucoma usually occurs when fluid doesn’t drain properly from the eye. This causes pressure to build up and damage the optic nerve, the main link between eyes and brain. “Since vision loss is very slow and usually involves peri- pheral (side) vision, most people don’t notice any symptoms,” he says. “On rare occasions there may be eye pain, headaches or nausea. But typically, we detect glaucoma in a routine eye exam.” Your risk for developing glaucoma increases if you’re over age 60 and have a family history of the disease. It’s also more common in African-Americans. Regular glaucoma checkups measure the inner pressure of the eye and examine the optic nerve. Doctors use more specialized tests to determine the exact type of glaucoma and prescribe treatment. “Glaucoma can’t be cured, but it can be controlled,” Ahdieh says. The first step is medication taken daily as eye drops. This reduces eye pressure to a healthier level and stops the progression of vision loss. New medications are now available, Ahdieh says, that are safer, more effective and can be taken less often. If medication doesn’t work, doctors may use laser surgery to stimulate the eye’s drainage system. A new procedure called “selective laser trabeculoplasty” (SLT) minimizes damage to the eye’s surrounding tissue so treatment can be repeated if necessary. When medication and laser surgery aren’t enough, traditional surgery to replace the eye’s drainage system is an option.
Want to Know More about glaucoma or about free vision screenings? Call 610-402-CARE. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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