Glaucoma

Glaucoma is disease of the optic nerve involving loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern of optic neuropathy. This may be due to unstable blood flow.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. It most often occurs in people over age 40. It affects one in 200 people under age 50, and one in 10 over the age of eighty.

Genetics appear to play a part in the propensity to develop glaucoma, with the chance of developing glaucoma increasing to six percent for those with a family history of glaucoma.

In addition, diabetics and those of African-American descent are three times more likely to develop primary open angle glaucoma.

Cause of Glaucoma

One of the main pre-conditions to developing glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure; howevver, there is no set threshold for intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma.

One person may develop nerve damage at a relatively low pressure, whilst another person may have high eye pressure for many years without any symptoms or any damage to the eye.

Leaving glaucoma untreated can lead to permanent damage of the optic nerve and resul in loss of visual field and can even lead to blindness.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Screening for glaucoma is part of the standard eye examination performed by ophthalmologists and optometrists.

It is tested using a combination of intraocular pressure via tonometry, changes in size or shape of the eye, and an examination of the optic nerve for any visible damage and/or a change in the cup-to-disc ratio.

If there are any indications of glaucoma, a fulll visual field test is performed. In addition, a laser ophthalmoscope scan may also be performed.

Prevention & Treatment

Glaucoma cannot be prevented, nor can vision lost to glaucoma be restored. It is therefore essential that annual eye examinations are done so that glaucoma can be diagnosed as early as possible.

Although there is as yet no cure for glaucoma, it can be treated with either medications or surgery.

Supplements - certain nutritional elements that are known to help prevent the onset of glaucoma and boost eyesight include: Inositol, Bilberry, and niacin. More on Glaucoma Nutritional Supplements

Drugs - pharmaceuticals are used to lower interoccular pressure. Studies have shown that marijuana, when smoked, lowers intraocular pressure.

Surgery - both laser and conventional surgeries are used to treat glaucoma. However, these offer only a temporary solution.

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