EYE DISORDERS: GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma is the result of an increase in pressure within the eye. As the pressure builds, the retina is slowly damaged and eventually destroyed. You may have chronic glaucoma without any symptoms until your vision becomes severely damaged. You may notice a distortion of vision and halos around lights or find that your vision has become poor. During an attack of acute glaucoma, there may be sudden eye pain, redness, and a rapid deterioration of vision. In most people, however, the disease is not painful, but it can progress slowly and insidiously, leading to impaired vision or blindness.
You should have your eyes checked at least once a year. The eye pressure should be measured to determine whether it is elevated. This can be done by a family doctor who has experience in the technique or by an ophthalmologist. It may not be sufficient to have your vision tested by an optometrist, and in some areas, optometrists are not trained or allowed to measure eye pressure. Glaucoma might not be diagnosed when your vision is being checked for glasses by an optometrist. Ask whether he has measured your eye pressure when you visit.
Some medications used to treat depression, heart disease, or bowel disorders can increase the risk of glaucoma. Some eye drops can also make glaucoma worse. If you suffer from glaucoma, ask your physician about the effects of new drugs on this condition. And make sure that any physician you see knows that you have glaucoma.
How Is Glaucoma Treated? The most important part of treatment for glaucoma is early diagnosis. When high eye pressure is found before there is severe damage to vision, most people can be treated successfully with eyedrops or medications that decrease the pressure. If the eyedrops are not completely effective, surgery including new laser techniques may be recommended. During an attack of acute glaucoma, you will first receive intensive medical treatment to decrease the pressure. This may be followed by surgery to allow the excess fluid to drain from the eye. In most instances glaucoma can be treated and controlled if the diagnosis is made early. It would be tragic to lose your vision from a condition that can be so effectively treated, so have your vision and eye pressure tested at least once a year.
*216\166\2*
