What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that involves damage to the optic nerve, the part of the eye that carries the images we see to the brain. The optic nerve is like an electric cable containing about 1.2 million wires. Glaucoma can damage nerve fibers, causing blind spots to develop. In the most common type of glaucoma, patients may experience a gradual narrowing of their peripheral vision that creates "tunnel vision."

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, especially for older people. But loss of sight from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment.  

What causes glaucoma?
Increased pressure inside the eye can be the culprit. Pressure builds up in the eye when the clear liquid called the aqueous humor, which normally flows in and out of the eye, is prevented from draining properly. This can happen in different ways, depending on the type of glaucoma. The resulting increase in pressure within the eye can damage the optic nerve.

Eye doctors used to think that high intraocular pressure was the main cause of optic nerve damage in glaucoma. Today, however, we know that even people with "normal" pressure can experience vision loss from glaucoma. On the other hand, some people with high intraocular pressure never develop the optic nerve damage of glaucoma. (These people need to be followed carefully by an eye doctor, because they are considered "glaucoma suspects.")

How do I know if I have glaucoma?
By the time your vision is damaged from glaucoma, the disease has been at work for a long time. To detect glaucoma early, when it's treatable, visit your eye doctor regularly.

Your most important risk factors include:

• Over the age of 40
• Family history of glaucoma
• Abnormally high eye pressure
• African, Scandinavian, Celtic or Russian ancestry
• Diabetes
• Nearsightedness
• Regular, long-term use of steroids/cortisone
• Previous eye injury

How is glaucoma treated?
As a rule, damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Glaucoma is usually controlled with eye drops taken daily to decrease eye pressure. Depending upon your situation, laser surgery and surgery in the operating room are used to help prevent additional damage. Oral medications may also be prescribed.

Consult an Eye Care Associates doctor
Make sure you're doing all you can to detect glaucoma early. Make an appointment with an experienced eye doctor at Eye Care Associates of Greater Cincinnati.