Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that causes the optic nerve at the back of the eye to be slowly destroyed.

This commonly happens when the pressure inside the eye builds up due to a blockage in drainage of the fluid - hence the importance of having your eye pressures checked!  Glaucoma can also be caused by poor blood supply to the optic nerve or a weakness of the nerve structures.

What would I see if I have glaucoma?

Glaucoma may come in different forms.  Of the common types, you usually do not experience any symptoms until a majority of the nerve has been damaged. Once this occurs you may experience:

• Painless blurry vision
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Difficulty with dim lighting.
  

Risk Factors for Glacuoma

Family History
Diabetes
Migraines
Myopia (short sightedness)
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Steroid usage
Over the age of 40

Is there a cure for glaucoma?

Unfortunately there is currently no cure for glaucoma. Treatment such as eye drops and surgery can be used to prevent or delay vision loss, but once damage has been done, it is irreversible. Hence the importance of regular eye examinations!