Over the next few days, we’ll talk about Glaucoma, which is a very serious, sight threatening condition, without a cure.
Glaucoma is a very complicated condition, in which there is damage to the optic nerve, due to increased intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye) resulting in a progressive and irreversible loss of vision. It has been nicknamed “the silent thief of sight”, due to the fact that vision loss occurs gradually and one only realizes the symptoms when the disease is at an advanced stage. Vision loss usually starts in the periphery (sides), resulting in tunnel vision. The biggest sign of tunnel vision is constantly bumping into things, and not being able to to see something without looking directly at it.
Risk factors
Age – over 40
Race- Black, but may affect any race.
Genetics- if a family member has glaucoma, there’s a chance of developing it as well.
Regular eye exams are important, even when you don’t have any vision problems. We can detect Glaucoma by assessing the pressure in the eyes, and if it’s found to be higher than normal, a referral to the Ophthalmologist is required.
