There are many parts of our body that we need to take care of to ensure our good health. One of those areas is our eyes, and protecting our sight should be part of our annual preventative care check-up. Now, during National Glaucoma Month, is a good time to learn about the diseases that are known as “the sneak thieves of sight.”
Currently, more than 2.7 million people in the United States over the age of 40 have glaucoma, a group of diseases that increases the pressure in the eye due to fluid buildup. This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve and can cause diminished vision or even blindness. There are two main types of glaucoma.
- Primary open-angle glaucoma – This is the more common type of glaucoma, caused by fluid build-up in the eye that can drain but drains too slowly, causing pressure to build. Usually treated with medication, primary open-angle glaucoma can sometimes also require surgery. There are generally no symptoms until vision loss begins. This makes regular eye exams critical, because individuals can lose up to 40% of their vision without noticing!
- Angle-closure glaucoma – In this type of glaucoma, the fluid build-up in the eye can’t drain, leading to a rapid increase of pressure in the eyes. Symptoms may include severe eye pain, with redness and blurred vision in the eye, as well as nausea. This is considered a medical emergency and requires that you see your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room for evaluation.
Glaucoma is detected by an optometrist or ophthalmologist through a dilated eye exam. Some people are more at risk for developing glaucoma, including African Americans over the age of 40, all adults over the age of 60, people with diabetes, and those with a family history of the disease. Regular eye exams are especially important for those at a higher risk for glaucoma, and may help to prevent unnecessary vision loss.
Without treatment, people with glaucoma begin to slowly lose their peripheral vision, seeming as though they are looking through a tunnel and often missing objects that come within the corner of their vision. There is no cure; however, medication or surgery can often treat the disease. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of glaucoma. Be sure to protect yourself against vision loss by having regular eye exams.
