Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to the optic eye nerve. This results when pressure is put on the nerve from an excess of fluid built up in the front of the eye. Over 120,000 people in the United States are blind as a result of glaucoma. Here is what you need to know about this incurable eye disease.
What Are The Symptoms Of Glaucoma?
There are two different types of glaucoma, and the scary thing is, the most common type, primary open-angle glaucoma, has no warning signs until it's too late. It's painless, and there are no vision changes until the disease is quite advanced. This is why it's so important to have your annual or bi-annual eye exam as recommended with your optometrist. The eyes won't drain the fluid properly, and the optic nerve slowly becomes compressed.
The other type of glaucoma, closed-angle glaucoma, sometimes called narrow-angle glaucoma, is a medical emergency. If the drainage area is close to the iris in the eye, it can become clogged, like a drain. The fluid quickly builds up. Closed-angle glaucoma will have the following symptoms:
- Sudden eye pain
- Rapid-onset blurry vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe headache
- Halos or splashes of light in your field of vision
Acute closed-angle glaucoma will cause permanent blindness if it is not treated right away. There is also a type of chronic closed-angle glaucoma, which will happen more slowly and may not have symptoms, so again, seeing your optometrist regularly is very important to protect the health of your eyes.
What Are The Causes Of Glaucoma?
Your eyes are constantly making a fluid called aqueous humor. This is a clear liquid that keeps your eyeballs inflated and lubricated. The pressure needs to be balanced, so as new fluid is produced, old fluid is drained out. But sometimes, that process can become blocked or like a clogged drain. This allows the pressure to build, which in turn presses on the optic nerve.
This nerve is just like optic fiber cables. Rather than a bunch of wires, the sheath contains a bunch of nerves. As they are pressed on, the nerves die, which eventually causes blind spots in your vision. When all the nerve fibers die, you are blind.
Who Is Most At Risk For Glaucoma?
Glaucoma can affect anyone, at any age, but it is more common in:
- Those over 40 years of age
- Those of African-American heritage
- Those of Hispanic heritage
- Migraine sufferers
- Those who have had a previous eye injury
- Those who have other eye conditions, including wearing glasses or contacts for vision correction
See an eye doctor, like De Venuto Joseph J, for more help.
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