Glaucoma

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narrower anterior chamber angles than any other race (Rumelt). Gender also is another point. Caucasian women are 3 times more likely to get this disease than men are (WebMD). Among African-American, both men and women appear to be affected equally (WebMD).

How do you know you might be part of the few that are affected by any type of glaucoma? If you pay attention to symptoms and are noticing any of the following you may have glaucoma. The fist sign of glaucoma is often the loss of peripheral or side vision, this can go unnotived until late in the disease (Heiting). Detecting glaucoma early is one major reason you should have a complete exam with an eye specialist every one to two years (Heiting). Occasionally, intraocular pressure can rise to severe levels. In these cases, sudden eye pain, headache, blurred vision, or the appearance of halos around lights may occur (Heiting). If you have any of the following symptoms, it is a good idea to get checked by an ophthalmologist just to be on the safe side.

The first step to figure out if the pressure in your eyes is due to Glaucoma is to get go for a check up and get a diagnosis. Fundoscopy is one way, in this way of diagnosis the pupil is dilated by eye drops (MacEwen, 2010). Using a small device with a small light pointing towards the eye, this helps magnify the optic nerve and the ophthalmologist is able to see the magnified optic nerve clearly (Rumelt). When the ophthalmologist does the Fundoscopy test and examines the shape and color of the optic nerve. Another way to diagnose is by doing Perimetry (MacEwen, 2010). In this kind of diagnosis, the ophthalmologist examines the complete field of vision of the patient (Rumelt). The patient is told to look straight ahead and indicate when light passes the patients peripheral field of vision (Rumelt). There are many more like: Tonometry, Gonioscopy, nerve fiber analysis and Pachymetry but Perimetry and Fundoscopy are the two common one that are done.

Now, when a patient is diagnosed with any type of Glaucoma the fist thing that comes to their mind is what are the treatments for this disease (MacEwen, 2010). The goal of treatment is to reduce intraocular pressure as soon as possible (MacEwen, 2010). One kind of treatment is called Systemic medicines, which contain carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (MacEwen, 2010). As the pressure is high inside the eye and need to be dropped rapidly and medicine is given (MacEwen,2010). The medicine contains acetazolamide and is rapidly in the circulation of the body through veins (MacEwen, 2010). Another treatment is the laser treatment, both eyes need to be treated, even though one is usually affected, the other eye will go on to develop closed angle glaucoma if it is left untreated (MacEwen, 2010). After the treatment there is a hole that is made in the colored part of the iris (MacEwen, 2010). This hole is essential to prevent this condition from happening again (MacEwen, 2010). Lastly, is any of the above treatments do not work there is surgical treatment that is used on the patient (MacEwen, 2010).

Heiting, Gary. "Narrow-Angle Glaucoma." All About Vision. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.

Rumelt, Michael B. "Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma." N.p., n.d. Web.

MacEwen, Caroline. "Glaucoma." Netdoctor. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.

WebMD. "Glaucoma | Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Glaucoma." WebMD. WebMD, 03 Jan. 0000. Web. 25 July 2013.