Introduction
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of permanent blindness in the world. It affects more than two million Americans, and more than one hundred million people worldwide. Glaucoma takes away a victim's sight slowly, but relentlessly, and in most cases, without any warning. Visual damage from glaucoma is irreversible and permanent. Blindness from glaucoma, however, can be prevented with proper preventive eye care.
Who is at Risk?
Glaucoma can strike people of any age, sex, and race. Certain individuals, however, are at increased risk. Those at increased risk include persons of African descent, those with a family history of glaucoma, and possibly those with nearsightedness or high blood pressure. The risk of glaucoma also increases as one gets older. The risk of glaucoma increases markedly in people of African descent over the age of 35 years, and in people of Caucasian descent over the age of 50 years. Other risk factors for glaucoma include diabetes and a history of trauma to the eye.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, which is the nerve that connects your eye to your brain. This nerve transmits visual information from the eye to the brain, thereby allowing you to see. In most cases, glaucoma damage progresses very slowly, over a period of several years. However, sometimes this damage can progress more rapidly. As the damage to the nerve progresses, a person begins to lose vision. This loss of vision begins with the side, or peripheral, vision. This is vision that you may not be aware of, but is very important in everyday activities such as walking and driving. The loss of this peripheral vision progresses as long as the disease is not treated. If treatment is not given, then the visual loss can progress until it begins to involve the central, or reading, vision. It is at this point that a victim of glaucoma may begin to notice trouble with vision. If treatment is still not given, then all vision in the eye can be lost. Visual loss from glaucoma is irreversible. Because vision lost from glaucoma can never be restored, it is critical to detect glaucoma before significant damage has occurred to the nerve. Proper treatment for glaucoma can be given to prevent further loss of vision.
