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Index of Diseases and Conditions: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Glaucoma

Glaucoma damages the eye's optic nerve. It is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. It usually happens when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises, damaging the optic nerve. Often there are no symptoms at first, but a comprehensive eye exam can detect it.

People at risk should get eye exams at least every two years. They include

Early treatment can help protect your eyes against vision loss. Treatments usually include prescription eyedrops and/or surgery.

National Eye Institute

Glaucoma on Wikipedia

cross-sectional view. Courtesy National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute '''Glaucoma''' is a group of diseases of the optic nerve involving loss of ganglion cell in a characteristic pattern of optic atrophy. Raised intraocular pressure is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma. There is no set threshold for intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma — while one person may develop nerve damage at a relatively low pressure, another person may have high eye pressures for years and yet never develop damage. Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic disc of the retina and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness.

Types

The most common type, '''primary open angle glaucoma (POAG)''', frequently has no symptoms and has been nicknamed "the thief of sight". One factor may be a relative obstruction on the outflow of aqueous humour from the eye. Aqueous humour is produced by the ciliary body of the eye, and then flows through the pupil and into the anterior chamber. The trabecular meshwork then drains the humour to Schlemm's canal, and ultimately to the venous system. All eyes have some intraocular pressure, which is caused by some resistance to the flow of aqueous through the trabeculum and Schlemm's canal. If the intraocular pressure (IOP) is too high, (>21.5 mm Hg), the pressure exerted on the walls of the eye result in compression of the ocular structures. However, other factors such as disturbances of blood flow in the optic nerve head may interact with IOP to affect the optic nerve. In one third of cases of POAG there is statistically normal IOP. This is called '''normal tension glaucoma (NTG)'''. Because optic nerve examination and perimetry testing are not always done in addition to IOP measurement in ...   [ Read More ]


External Resources

See-Clear - Herbal eye wash to relieve eye floaters, diabetic eye deterioration, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Low Vision Associates (NYC) - Helping patients with the latest on low vision, whether from injury, aging, glaucoma, macular degeneration, albinism, retinitus pigmentosa, diabetes or other, specialty lenses or contacts may help.

Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc. - A manufacturer of diagnostic, laser scanning ophthalmoscopes used for early detection of glaucoma.

Proneuron Biotechnologies, Inc - Developing therapies for neurological disorders such as spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative diseases and glaucoma. Features explanation of technology and details of clinical studies. Los Angeles, California, USA.

A2 solutions Visualisation Tool - Allows people to see websites the way people with various visual impairments do. Currently it covers varying degrees of colour blindness, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Link Between Hypothyroidism, Glaucoma Found - Contains a study involving 600 male patients. From Health Central.

U-M Kellogg Eye Center - Nail-patella syndrome: definition and treatment information, including surgery. A discussion about the strong evidence of a link between glaucoma and NPS.

Yahoo! Health - Eye & Vision Care - Find information on eye and vision conditions and topics including glaucoma, macular degeneration, allergic conjunctivitis, low vision, cataracts, and more.

Eye Surgery Education Council - Provides information for patients, families, and other consumers. Includes details of laser vision correction, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Ophthalmology Review Journal - Glaucoma - A non-profit organization devoted to the education and training of international eye care providers. Lists a number of medical articles and case studies about this severe eye disease.


Related Pages on HealthTales.com:

Early-onset glaucoma -

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