January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month
January 4, 2010
Glaucoma affects an estimated 3 million Americans and is the second leading cause of blindness in the
The most common form of glaucoma is open-angle. With open-angle glaucoma, the sponge-like drainage area in the eye becomes clogged, resulting in pressure build up when fluid inside the eye is unable to drain. Forty-five year old Larry Hoffer of
Anyone can develop glaucoma however some people are at higher risk than others. These groups include: African Americans over age 40, everyone over age 60, and those with a family history of glaucoma. “Although I was pretty young, my mother, brother and sister have all been diagnosed with glaucoma,” says Hoffer. “It didn’t really surprise me when the doctor told me I had it too.”
If left untreated, there is a strong possibility that glaucoma will cause progressive vision loss beginning with blind spots in peripheral vision, followed by tunnel vision and finally total blindness. Glaucoma treatments include medicines, laser treatments, surgical procedures or any combination of the three. While these treatments may save remaining vision, they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma. “Immediate treatment for early stage glaucoma can delay progression of the disease,” says Wolfe Eye Clinic Glaucoma Specialist
Medicines, in the form of eyedrops or pills, are the most common early treatment for glaucoma. Some cause the eye to make less fluid and others lower pressure by helping fluid drain from the eye. In-office laser treatments called trabeculoplasty use a high-energy laser beam to open clogged drainage canals which helps fluid drain more easily from the eye. “In many cases, the laser treatment initially lowers the pressure in the eye, however over time, these canals may clog again, causing pressure to rise,” says Dr. Mason.
If eyedrops and laser treatment aren’t effective enough in controlling eye pressure, a surgical treatment called a trabeculectomy may be used. A trabeculectomy is a surgical procedure where a small piece of the trabecular meshwork is removed, allowing the build up of fluid to leave the eye through this hole, lowering the eye pressure. “I started on eyedrops in both my eyes right away, followed by laser treatments a few months later,” says Hoffer. “That worked for a while, but by November of 2009 the pressure in my left eye was going up again and my visual field tests were getting worse, meaning I was still losing some sight, so it was time for surgery.”