If you're one of the 1 million Americans who have been diagnosed with glaucoma...
Consider yourself
lucky!
You've been given the opportunity to preserve your vision, because vision
loss from glaucoma can be prevented if it is caught and treated in time. Many
others are not so lucky. Almost 80,000 Americans are blind from glaucoma,
and another million are at risk for vision loss because they don't know they
have it.
In fact, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the U.S., and the single most common cause of blindness among African-Americans.
Glaucoma is often called the "sneak thief" of sight because the most common type causes no symptoms until vision is already damaged. That's why the best way to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is to know your risk factors and have medical eye examinations at appropriate intervals. (Your Eye Care Professional can help you determine how often you should have your eyes examined.)
Glaucoma is a
condition in which the optic nerve, which carries the images we see to the
brain, is damaged. The optic nerve is like an electric cable containing about
1.2 million wires. Glaucoma can damage nerve fibers, causing blind spots to
develop.
What causes glaucoma?
Many people know that glaucoma has something to do with pressure inside the eye -- the intraocular pressure (IOP).
Pressure builds up in the eye when the clear liquid called the aqueous humor, which normally flows in and out of the eye, is prevented from draining properly. This can happen in different ways, depending on the type of glaucoma. The resulting increase in pressure within the eye can damage the optic nerve.
Eye Care Professionals used to think that high intraocular pressure was the main cause of optic nerve damage in glaucoma, however we now know that even people with "normal" IOP can experience vision loss from glaucoma -- so-called "normal tension glaucoma".
Some people with high intraocular pressure (also known as ocular hypertension) never develop the optic nerve damage of glaucoma. (These people need to be followed carefully by an Eye Care Professional, because they are considered "glaucoma suspects.")
There may be other factors which affect the optic nerve, even when IOP is in so-called "normal" range. Elevated IOP is still considered a major risk factor for glaucoma, though, because studies have shown that the higher the IOP is, the more likely optic nerve damage is to occur.
Important Facts About Glaucoma
The following
is information regarding primary open-angle
glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma:
Glaucoma is a serious eye disease. If left untreated, it can lead to vision loss and blindness.
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of legal blindness in the U.S. It is the leading cause of blindness for African-Americans.
Glaucoma is a chronic (ongoing) condition that requires lifelong monitoring and treatment. It is important for people with glaucoma to work with their Eye Care Professional to find a treatment plan that is right for them.
About 2 million Americans have glaucoma - but only half of them are aware of it.
In glaucoma, the fluid (different from tears) that normally flows through the front section of the eye cannot drain properly. This causes a buildup of pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss.
Your Eye Care Professional can use a series of painless tests and exams to check you for glaucoma. Other tests may be done if your Eye Care Professional suspects you may have glaucoma.
Vision loss is usually preventable if glaucoma is detected early. There is no "cure" for glaucoma, but early detection and ongoing treatment can control the disease and usually preserve vision.
Treatment for glaucoma can include medication and/or surgery. The best treatment for each person is determined by a number of factors, including type and severity of glaucoma, and the person's medical history and lifestyle.
Glaucoma usually has no symptoms until vision loss has occurred.
Approximately
80,000 Americans are legally blind from glaucoma.
Many more have visual impairment.
Seniors, African-Americans
and those with a family history of glaucoma
are at higher risk for the disease and should have eye exams more often.
Medications for
glaucoma -- even eye drops -- can affect the whole body and may interact with
other medications. It is very important for all your doctors to be aware of
any medication you take.
Please refer to the following resources
to learn more about glaucoma:
Foundation of
the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The Glaucoma Foundation
The International Glaucoma Association
The Glaucoma Research Foundation
Prevent Blindness America
National Eye Institute
If you think you're at risk for glaucoma, and haven't had a medical eye examination in the past two years, you can call the Celebrate Sight Referral Line, 1-800-391-EYES (3937) for a referral to an ophthalmologist in your area. If you have no medical insurance and are unable to pay for care, the initial examination and subsequent medical care for glaucoma are at no cost to you.
Elevated Risk among African Americans
Stop Endangering Eyes! Protect Your Eyes From Glaucoma
