Blog #45 On glaucoma
In a previous blog we looked at blindness; in
this blog we are going to hone in on glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. The damage is usually caused by an abnormally
high pressure in your eye. It is one of
the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.
There are approximately 400,000 people in
Canada that have glaucoma, and as many as 50% of these people are undiagnosed. Glaucoma usually happens when the eye builds
up pressure inside, restricting blood flow or directly constricting sensitive neurons
in the eye.
The eye produces its own fluid which bathes the
inside with oxygen and nutrients, and then the eye drains this fluid. When this fluid is over produced or the
drainage gets reduced, then the pressure in the eye will increase. The biggest problem is that pressure
increases usually happen slowly and quietly.
By the time you realize that your vision is affected, you will have
serious pressure issues (serious glaucoma issues).
This can be prevented.
Having your eyes checked regularly for
pressures is very important. During a
regular eye exam, your optometrist will check your eye pressures and do a
multitude of other tests to detect the early signs of glaucoma such as checking
the appearance of your optic nerves, and taking the measurement of neuron
layers, ganglion cells, anterior chamber angles, and corneal thicknesses to
name a few. The Canadian Association of
Optometristsare an excellent resource on the topic.
Most glaucoma is treatable by prescription eye
drops or laser surgery: any nerve damage, unfortunately, is irreversible.
People at higher risk:
Family history
of glaucoma, a big factor.
Conditions like
sleep apnea, or Raynaud’s syndrome increase risk.
Blood
circulation is vital for all those demanding retinal cells, so regular
cardiovascular exercise, no smoking, and getting your body mass index down are
all positive ways to help.
Many of my patients are in the over 60 age
group, and understand the need for regular eye check-ups. This blog is especially targeted to 30 to 50
years old’s who do not come regularly for eye checks. We are talking about
prevention.
Call, text or write and tell my front desk staff
that the good doctor sent you.
Til next week,
the good doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist
