January is Glaucoma Awareness Month The information and recommendations appearing on these pages are informational only and is not intended to be a basis for diagnosis, treatment or any other clinical application. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, the DJO suggests that you consult your physician. This power point brought to you by your favorite school nurses; K. Gay RN BSN, S. Kohut RN BSN, P. Langeloh RN, D. Ramsey RN BSN, S. Woll RN

Chronic (primary open-angle) glaucoma is the most common type. Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to progressive irreversible loss of vision, it is often, but not always associated with increase pressure of the fluid in the eye. It has no symptoms until eye sight is lost at a later stage. You need to see your Eye Doctor. Eye health is just as important as anything else.

Call your doctor if you: There are rarely any symptoms in the early stages of the disease so regular eye checks by qualified professionals are important. Ophthalmologists and optometrists will diagnose glaucoma on the basis of intraocular pressure, visual field tests and optic nerve head appearance. Patients will sometimes notice patchy loss of peripheral vision or reduced clarity of colors and these people may benefit from a review by an eye specialist. Symptoms of angle closure glaucoma can include pain in or around the eye ball, headache, nausea/vomiting and visual disturbances, for example halos around lights. In some cases there are no symptoms.

References include; preventblindness.org/news/observe.html for Free guide “The John Hopkins Health Alerts Guide to Glaucoma”