Glaucoma: What’s New and What Do I Need to Know?

Glaucoma is one of the most common eye conditions and a leading cause of partial and permanent blindness. Unfortunately, eye and vision specialists do not know as much about this condition as they do other eye disorders. This includes the presenting symptoms of glaucoma and the treatment options. However, early treatment can slow or even stop the loss of vision.

 

Glaucoma Prevalence in the United States 

According to estimates, about three million people in the U.S. have glaucoma. Some researchers and experts expect the number to increase to more than six million in the next 30 years. This condition is more common in people above the age of 60. However, it can start developing at any age.

 

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a collection of eye disorders that damage the eye’s optic nerve. This is the eye’s major nerve supply that carries visual signals from the eye to the brain, allowing people to see. In people with glaucoma, there is gradual damage to the optic nerve. If not addressed quickly, it can lead to gradual loss of vision and blindness.

 

Symptoms of Glaucoma

One of the most important things you need to know about this condition is that damage to the optic nerve occurs very slowly. Most people do not notice any symptoms or signs of glaucoma until it is too late. As the condition progresses, however, it will negatively affect your quality of life.

 

The symptoms and signs will vary depending on the type of glaucoma you have and the stage of your condition. If you have open-angle glaucoma, for example, you will notice intermittent blind spots in your central or peripheral vision. This often happens in both eyes. In its advanced stage, you may experience tunnel vision.

 

Another type of glaucoma is acute angle-closure glaucoma. If you have this condition, you will notice the following symptoms:

 

• Eye redness
  
   

• Severe headaches
  
   

• Halos around lights
  
   

• Eye pain
  
   

• Blurred vision
  
   

• Vomiting and nausea
  
   

Left untreated, both types of glaucoma will eventually lead to permanent blindness. Even with treatment, some people still lose vision in at least one eye within two decades.

 

Risk Factors for Developing Glaucoma

As the information above shows, this is a very complex eye condition. Researchers associate many genes with glaucoma; however, its underlying causes remain unclear. Nevertheless, they identify several important risk factors that everyone needs to consider. These include:

 

• The use of steroids can increase the risk of developing glaucoma
  
   

• The condition is more common in people aged 60 and above. However, for African Americans, it is more common in those above 40
  
   

• Those who are severely farsighted or nearsighted have a higher risk of developing the condition
  
   

• People of Southeast and East Asian descent have a higher risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma
  
   

• Chronic eye conditions and a history of multiple eye surgeries or eye trauma can increase your risk
  
   

What’s New?

Ongoing research continues to improve people’s understanding of this eye condition. It plays a critical role in the development of more personalized and targeted treatments.

 

Some experimental treatments such as neuroprotection, aimed at stopping damage to the optic nerve, show promise. Researchers are also studying innovations, new drug delivery systems, and medications to make surgery more effective and safer.


 

To learn more about glaucoma, visit Davie Family Eye Care at our office in Davie, Florida. Call (754) 238-5360 today to schedule an appointment.