Prevention of Blindness Society...
NETWORK NEWS
JANUARY 2001
Glaucoma - A Sneaky Thief of Sight
The Silent Thief of Sight
is one of the more common descriptions of glaucoma, an eye disease that slowly
and painlessly takes away vision. Left undiagnosed and untreated, glaucoma can
irreversibly destroy 90% or more of one’s vision before any symptoms occur.
At the Virginia Aging
Eye Network meeting in December, Kenneth Karlin, M.D. explained that while
glaucoma is most commonly found in people over age 50, there are severe
versions of the disease found in young people and even in children. These forms
of glaucoma can be particularly devastating, as most young adults are not aware
that glaucoma can affect them and screenings may not be done for many years.
Dr. Karlin stated that about 500,000 people in the U.S. are legally blind
(about half the elderly population). More than a million people probably have
glaucoma and are unaware that they have it.
A family history of
glaucoma is not needed for someone to have the disease, but it does
increase one’s odds of getting it. Diabetes, extreme near-sightedness and
extreme far-sightedness, African-Americans and the elderly are more prone to
glaucoma.
Glaucoma is usually
diagnosed during routine exams for glasses. The aqueous liquid (present in
everyone’s eyes) is created inside the eye and provides nutrients to the eye.
When the aqueous cannot drain out at the same rate it is being created,
increasing pressure builds in the eye. The increase in pressure gradually
damages the optic nerve fibers of the eye. The higher the pressure, the more
fibers are destroyed daily.
Once diagnosed, treatment
for glaucoma can usually prevent any progression of the disease and further
loss of vision. In most cases glaucoma is treated with the daily use of eye
drops. Laser treatments are also effective, painless, and quick and are used to
increase the drainage of fluid out of the eye. If glaucoma continues to
progress with the use of drops and laser treatment, surgery may be performed.
This filtration surgery or trabeculectomy requires an outpatient visit to the
operating room.
Dr. Karlin cautioned
that the best way to protect yourself and your family against the devastating
affects of glaucoma is by having regular screening exams with your
ophthalmologist. A routine exam should include a pressure test, a visual fields
test and a look at the optic nerve. To obtain a brochure on glaucoma, call the
Prevention of Blindness Society at 202-234-1010. Article by Kenneth Karlin,
M.D.
© 2001 Prevention of Blindness Society of the Metropolitan Area, Washington, DC. All Rights Reserved.