Glaucoma is sometimes called the silent thief because it can slowly steal your sight before you realize anything's wrong. It's a leading cause of vision loss. Therefore, it's a very serious disease.
The most common form of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, develops gradually, giving no warning signs. Many people aren't even aware they have an eye problem until their vision is extensively compromised.
Glaucoma is not just one disease, but a group of them. The common feature of these diseases is damage to the optic nerve, usually accompanied by an abnormally high pressure inside your eyeball.
The optic nerve is a bundle of more than a million nerve fibers at the back of your eye. It's like an electric cable made up of thousands of individual wires carrying the images from the inside back wall of your eyeball (retina) to your brain. Blind spots develop in your visual field when the optic nerve deteriorates, usually starting with your peripheral (side) vision. If left untreated, glaucoma may lead to blindness in both eyes.
Fortunately, medical advances have made it easier to diagnose and treat glaucoma. If detected and treated early, glaucoma need not cause even moderate vision loss. But having glaucoma does mean regular monitoring
Primary open-angle glaucoma gives few warning signs or symptoms until permanent damage has already occurred. That's why regular eye exams are the key to detecting glaucoma early enough for successful treatment.
It's best to have routine eye checkups every two to four years after age 40 and every one to two years after age 65. Because African-Americans have a much higher risk of glaucoma, screening should begin every three to five years from age 20 to 29, and every two to four years after age 30.
Don't wait for problems of any kind to occur. If you have one or more risk factors for glaucoma, talk to your doctor about scheduling regular eye exams. Some tests can be performed by your regular doctor, but others need to be done by an eye-care specialist.
In addition, be alert for signs or symptoms of an acute angle-closure glaucoma attack, such as a severe headache or pain in your eye or eyebrow, nausea, blurred vision, or rainbow halos around lights. If you experience any of these problems, seek immediate care at your local hospital emergency room.
If you've received a diagnosis of glaucoma, establish a regular schedule of examinations with your opthalmologist or optometrist to be sure your treatment is helping maintain a safe pressure in your eyes.
Many years ago, my mother complained suddenly that she couldn't see. She had severe headaches and pain in her eyes. She felt like she had multiple needles stabbing her eyes. She was immediately taken to the hosp and an emergency laser surgery was done to relieve the increase in intraoccular pressure.. Without immediate medical intervention, she might have completely gone blind.
2007-04-05 22:18:21
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answer #1
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answered by rosieC 7
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Glaucoma is increased pressue inside your eye. It is either from your body making to much fluid or the fluid cannot drain properly. It is important for your eye doctor to rule out any other reasons that might increase intraocular high pressure. Glaucoma is not curable, but if continually checked and treated there should be no problem. If left untreated Glaucoma leads to blindness.
2007-04-06 02:14:33
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answer #2
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answered by Friendly Pharmacist 2
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Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve involving loss of ganglion cells. Untreated glaucoma leads to damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss which can progress to blindness.
See your eye doctor, and keep getting it treated.
2007-04-05 21:51:37
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answer #3
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answered by C J 6
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2017-02-17 11:37:16
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answer #4
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answered by gene 4
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my mum had laser treatment to cure it. or you can take pills. it's serious but you're very lucky that there are well established cures. don't worry, get a referral to see an eye specialist
2007-04-05 21:43:47
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Sugar in the eye.
Go to as many movies as possible. Fast!
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2007-04-05 21:35:24
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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