| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | '''Glaucoma''' refers to a category of [[eye]] disorders often associated with a dangerous buildup of internal eye pressure, which can damage the eye's optic nerve that transmits visual information to the [[brain]]. | + | '''Glaucoma''' is a common cause of [[blindness]]. |
| − | | |
| − | With untreated or uncontrolled glaucoma, a person might eventually notice decreased ability to see at the edges of their vision (peripheral vision). Progressive eye damage could then lead to blindness.
| |
| − | | |
| − | In fact, as the second leading cause of blindness, glaucoma creates at least some vision loss in more than half of the approximately 2.5 million Americans estimated to have the eye disease.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Glaucoma Symptoms==
| |
| − | Glaucoma is often referred to as the "silent thief of sight," because most types typically cause no pain and produce no symptoms. For this reason, glaucoma often progresses undetected until the optic nerve already has been irreversibly damaged, with varying degrees of permanent vision loss.
| |
| − | | |
| − | But with acute, angle-closure glaucoma, symptoms that occur suddenly can include blurry vision, halos around lights, intense eye pain, nausea, and vomiting.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Types of Glaucoma==
| |
| − | The two major types of glaucoma are chronic or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and acute angle-closure glaucoma, with angle referring to the configuration of internal eye structures that drain fluids. Other variations include congenital glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)===
| |
| − | About half of Americans with chronic glaucoma don't know they have it. Glaucoma gradually reduces peripheral vision. But by the time it is noticed, permanent damage has already occurred. If the IOP remains high, the destruction can progress until tunnel vision develops, and the person will be able to see only objects that are straight ahead.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===Angle-closure glaucoma===
| |
| − | Angle-closure or narrow angle glaucoma produces sudden symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, halos around lights, dilated pupils, vision loss, red eyes, nausea, and vomiting. These signs may last for a few hours, then return again for another round. Each attack takes with it part of the field of vision.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===Normal-tension glaucoma===
| |
| − | Like POAG, normal-tension glaucoma (also termed normal-pressure glaucoma, low-tension glaucoma, or low-pressure glaucoma) is an open-angle type of glaucoma that can cause visual field loss due to optic nerve damage. But in normal-tension glaucoma, the eye's IOP remains in the normal range. Also, pain is unlikely and permanent damage to the eye's optic nerve may not be noticed until symptoms such as tunnel vision occur.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The cause of normal-tension glaucoma is not known. But many doctors believe it is related to poor blood flow to the optic nerve. Normal-tension glaucoma is more common in those who are Japanese, are female, and/or have a history of vascular disease.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===Congenital glaucoma===
| |
| − | This inherited form of glaucoma is present at birth, with 80% of cases diagnosed by age one. These children are born with narrow angles or some other defect in the drainage system of the eye. It's difficult to spot signs of congenital glaucoma, because children are too young to understand what is happening to them. Congenital glaucoma typically occurs more in boys than in girls.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===Pigmentary glaucoma===
| |
| − | This rare form of glaucoma is caused by pigment deposited from the iris that clogs the draining angles, preventing aqueous humor from leaving the eye. Over time, the inflammatory response to the blocked angle damages the drainage system. It is unlikely to notice any symptoms with pigmentary glaucoma, though some pain and blurry vision may occur after exercise. Pigmentary glaucoma affects mostly white males in their mid-30s to mid-40s.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ===Secondary glaucoma===
| |
| − | Symptoms of chronic glaucoma following an eye injury could indicate secondary glaucoma, which also may develop with presence of infection, inflammation, a tumor, or an enlarged cataract.
| |
| | | | |
| | ==Medical marijuana== | | ==Medical marijuana== |