January is also “Glaucoma Awareness Month” so we will dedicate this Blog on the sight-stealing disease in an effort to spread the word. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. Although the most common forms primarily affect the middle-aged and the elderly, it can affect people of all ages.
There are two main types: Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) which accounts for about 90% of all Glaucoma cases and has no symptoms, and Angle-Closure Glaucoma where the angle of the canal is blocked by part of the Iris. Less common forms include congenital (from birth) and pigmentary, as well as secondary Glaucoma which can develop when another disease like Diabetes causes or contributes to increased eye pressure, resulting in optic nerve damage and vision loss.
FACTS
Glaucoma remains the LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTIBLE BLINDNESS with at least 300,000 Canadians affected by this disease - 50% are not even aware they have it! The CNIB states that blindness costs Canadians over $1 Billion per year.
Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes.
Not every person with increased eye pressure will develop Glaucoma; some people can tolerate higher levels of eye pressure better than others.
Glaucoma can develop without increased eye pressure; it’s called low-tension or normal-tension Glaucoma.
RISKS
There are some conditions which can increase your risk to develop Glaucoma, these include:
· A close family member with Glaucoma
· High Blood Pressure
· Diabetes
· People of African or Hispanic decent
· People over 60
· High myopia (nearsightedness)
· Thinness of the cornea
· Abnormal optic nerve anatomy
· Steroid use
· Blunt trauma injury to the eye (often from Baseball or Boxing)
*Please Note: the conditions listed above are only conditions that MAY put you at increased risk to develop Glaucoma, these in no way mean that you will develop any eye health issues. We share this information in an effort to increase the general public’s awareness and knowledge about risks to our health. If you already have one of the conditions listed above then you’ll want to be sure to have regular eye health exams to identify any eyesight issues as early as possible.
TESTING
There are several ways to test for glaucoma; diagnosis requires a comprehensive examination by a qualified Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.
Glaucoma testing may involve:
o Measure the pressure inside the eye [“IOP” = IntraOcular Pressure] (Tonometry)
o Dilated eye exam (Ophthalmoscopy)
o Visual field test (Perimetry)
o Measure the thickness of the Cornea (Pachymetry)
o Viewing where the Iris and Cornea meet (Gonioscopy)
Currently there is no national standard for vision screening of pre-school children across Canada. A British Columbia report that looked at vision screening programs found that only six of 9 provinces administered provincial mass screening programs (Gale and Micco, 1993).
TREATMENT
The keys to managing this disease are early diagnosis, proper treatment and regular eye exams. Although there is no cure for glaucoma, yet, medications and surgery can help you live with the disease and slow its progress. Some forms respond well to Laser treatment, and others can be managed with oral medication and/or eye drops. Acute, chronic, congenital, and secondary Glaucoma can all be treated successfully with microsurgery.
The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of Glaucoma among other factors, but early detection is vital to slow the progress of the disease. Without treatment, you will slowly lose your peripheral vision. If the disease remains untreated, you may miss objects to the side and out of the corner of your eye; it’ll seem like you’re looking through a tunnel (known as ‘tunnel vision’).Treatments may save remaining vision but they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma.
Before beginning any Glaucoma treatment, tell your eye care professional about any other medicines or supplements that you are taking. Sometimes the drops can interfere with the way other medicines work.
PREVENTION
A recent report suggests that certain wavelengths of light could be bad for the optic nerve. This hasn’t been proven yet but it would be wise to wear sunglasses and a hat on very bright days.
Moderate physical exercise over a 15-year period was associated with a 25% reduced risk to develop Glaucoma; Yoga can be beneficial, but avoid inverted positions such as headstands and shoulder-stands, as these may increase IOP.
A well-balanced diet is also associated with a lower incidence of eye disease; as your Insulin levels rise, it causes your blood pressure, and possibly also your eye pressure, to increase.
Avoid wearing contact lenses for prolonged periods or straining your eyes by reading too much in low light.
Wear protective eyewear when participating in sports or home improvement projects.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness; it is the second leading cause of blindness around the world but with early detection and treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss. Have regular eye exams that include testing for Glaucoma: every 2-4 years up to age 45; every 1-2 years age 45-65; and every 6-12 months after age 65. *Anyone with high risk factors should be tested every year or two after age 35.
“No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities – always see them, for they're always there.” Norman Vincent Peale
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