What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that gradually steals your vision. Usually, glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stages. Without proper treatment, glaucoma can lead to blindness. The good news is that with regular eye exams, early detection, and treatment, you can preserve your sight.
It was once thought that high eye pressure was the main cause of this optic nerve damage. Although IOP is clearly a risk factor, we now know that other factors must also be involved because sometimes people with “normal” eye pressure can still experience vision loss from glaucoma.
Who Gets Glaucoma?
Anyone. But those at higher risk to develop glaucoma include those who:
• Are over 40 years old
• Are of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent
• Have relatives with glaucoma
• Are very nearsighted (myopic) or far-sighted (hyperopic)
•Use steroid medications
• Have high eye pressure
• Have a thin central cornea
• Have had an eye injury
When Should You Get Your Eyes Checked for Glaucoma?
Early detection, through regular and complete eye exams, is the key to protecting your vision from damage caused by glaucoma. It is important to have your eyes examined regularly. Your eyes should be tested:
• Before age 40, every two to four years
• From age 40 to age 54, every one to three years
• From age 55 to 64, every one to two years
• After age 65, every six to 12 months
How is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
To be safe and accurate, five factors should be checked before making a glaucoma diagnosis:
1. The inner eye pressure (intraocular pressure or IOP) [tonometry]
2. The shape and color of the optic nerve (ophthalmoscopy or dilated eye exam)
3. The field of vision (perimetry test)
4. The angle in the eye where the iris meets the cornea (gonioscopy)
5. Thickness of the cornea (pachymetry).
What to Expect During Glaucoma Examinations Tonometry During tonometry, eye drops are used to numb the eye. Then the doctor uses a device called a tonometer to measure the inner pressure of the eye. A small amount of pressure is applied to the eye by a tiny device. The average range for eye pressure is 8–21 mm Hg (“mm Hg” refers to millimeters of mercury, a scale used to record eye pressure). The level of eye pressure at which glaucoma develops is not the same for everyone and some people can get glaucoma even if their pressures are within the normal range.
Is There a Cure?
With early diagnosis and proper medication and treatment, glaucoma can be controlled. However, sight loss resulting from glaucoma cannot be restored. At the present time, there is no cure. Once detected, glaucoma usually requires ongoing, long-term care. Keeping your eye pressure under control is very important. You must follow your treatment plan carefully to help control your eye pressure. This will protect the optic nerve and prevent sight loss. Many people think that glaucoma has been cured when high eye pressure is lowered to safe levels with medication or surgery. In fact, the glaucoma is only being controlled, not cured. Regular checkups are still needed even after medications or surgeries have controlled the eye pressure.
How to Use Eye Drops?
Before using eyedrops, wash your hands. Sit down and tilt your head back, or lie down and look at the ceiling. Then follow these steps:
1) Make a pocket in your lower lid pulling down with your index finger.
2) Look up. Squeeze one drop into the pocket in your lower lid. Don’t blink, wipe your eye, or touch the tip of the bottle to your eye or face.
3) Close your eye. Keep closed for 2-3 minutes without blinking. Optional: Press the inside corner of the eye (to stop the drop from draining into your throat).
Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each eye and each kind of drop you use.
Wait 3 to 5 minutes between drops. 17 Trouble-shooting eye