Glaucoma Region XI “The Hot Splinters”

Definition A group of diseases caused by damage to the optic nerve that can gradually eliminate all sight A group of diseases caused by damage to the optic nerve that can gradually eliminate all sight eye-health-conditions-glaucoma.action.htm eye-health-conditions-glaucoma.action.htm eye-health-conditions-glaucoma.action.htm (Source: PearleVision.com) (Source: PearleVision.com)

Affected parts of the eye Optic Nerve Optic Nerve Ciliary Body Ciliary Body Angle of the Anterior Chamber Angle of the Anterior Chamber

Glaucoma can be: Congenital Congenital Adventitious Adventitious Progressive Progressive Stable when managed medically Stable when managed medically

Multiple Types of Glaucoma Congenital: Congenital: inherited condition appearing in infants, incomplete development of the drainage canals during the prenatal period inherited condition appearing in infants, incomplete development of the drainage canals during the prenatal period Secondary: Secondary: results from another cause such as drugs, injury, tumor, inflammation results from another cause such as drugs, injury, tumor, inflammation

Multiple types of Glaucoma Primary/Open Angle: Primary/Open Angle: most common form, the correct amount of fluid can’t drain out of the eye (clogged pipe) most common form, the correct amount of fluid can’t drain out of the eye (clogged pipe) Angle Closure Glaucoma: Angle Closure Glaucoma: rarest form, eye pressure rises quickly when drainage canals are blocked/covered (sink stopper) rarest form, eye pressure rises quickly when drainage canals are blocked/covered (sink stopper)

Three Parameters of Glaucoma 1. Origin 1. Origin Primary (ideopathic: disease has an unknown cause) Primary (ideopathic: disease has an unknown cause) Secondary (associated with other ocular or systemic conditions) Secondary (associated with other ocular or systemic conditions) 2. State of anterior chamber angle 2. State of anterior chamber angle open angle open angle closed angle closed angle 3. Chronicity 3. Chronicity Acute: short duration Acute: short duration Chronic: ongoing Chronic: ongoing

Diagnostic Assessment Tonometer: Tonometer: measures pressure Pachymeter: Pachymeter: measures corneal thickness Visual field test: Visual field test: measures peripheral vision Ophthalmoscopy: Ophthalmoscopy: direct observation of optic nerve Imaging Technology: Imaging Technology: scans optic nerve and retinal nerve fiber Gonioscopy: use of mirrors to see interior of eye Gonioscopy: use of mirrors to see interior of eye

Stages Initially, no symptoms, pain, or loss of vision Initially, no symptoms, pain, or loss of vision Loss of peripheral vision Loss of peripheral vision Visual field gradually narrows into tunnel vision Visual field gradually narrows into tunnel vision If allowed to progress without treatment, leads to complete loss of sight If allowed to progress without treatment, leads to complete loss of sight

Treatment: increase fluid drainage or decrease fluid production Medicated Eye Drops Medicated Eye Drops Oral Prescriptions Oral Prescriptions Betagan Betagan Pilocarpine Pilocarpine Propine Propine Timoptic Timoptic Surgery Surgery Traditional Traditional Laser Laser

Key Facts Affects 65 million people worldwide Affects 65 million people worldwide There is no cure There is no cure Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness The leading cause of blindness in African Americans (6-8 times more common than in Caucasians) The leading cause of blindness in African Americans (6-8 times more common than in Caucasians) Accounts for over seven million physician visits annually Accounts for over seven million physician visits annually

Functional Implications Activities of daily life (driving, sports, etc) may be affected by: Activities of daily life (driving, sports, etc) may be affected by: Decreased contrast sensitivity Decreased contrast sensitivity Light sensitivity Light sensitivity Difficulty with glare Difficulty with glare Need to establish new habits and routines for medication Need to establish new habits and routines for medication

National Glaucoma Day! 110 th Congressional House Resolution #981 was passed to increase awareness about glaucoma 110 th Congressional House Resolution #981 was passed to increase awareness about glaucoma First annual Glaucoma Awareness Day: First annual Glaucoma Awareness Day: March 6, 2008 Next annual Glaucoma Awareness Day: Next annual Glaucoma Awareness Day: April 12, 2010

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