Acute and Chronic Glaucoma

There is a common medical myth that glaucoma always causes blindness This is not true

There is a common medical myth that glaucoma always causes blindness. This is not true. If caught early, and treated promptly sight can be saved. However, if not treated early, blindness will occur.

The ciliary body of the eye produces a liquid known as the aqueous humor. This fluid circulates through the pupil from the back of the iris into a chamber between the iris and the cornea. There is a network of tissue located between the iris and the cornea called the drainage angle. The aqueous humor flows out of the eye through this network and into a channel that leads to another network of small veins on the outside of the eye. This flow of liquid is an ongoing process. However, if the drainage angle doesn''t function, as it should, the flow either moves more slowly or fails to move at all. This causes pressure to build up in the eye. As a result of this pressure, the blood vessels that bring nutrients and oxygen to the fibers of the optic nerve and light-sensitive cells of the retina collapse. Without the nutrients and oxygen they need, these cells and fibers begin to die. As a result, vision deteriorates. When the drainage angle is blocked suddenly the result is acute glaucoma. When an attack of acute glaucoma occurs, vision is blurry, the person may notice halos around light and there may be pain or redness in the eye. However, at this time there is not yet any permanent damage to vision. This is an emergency situation and the person should see a physician immediately. If an attack occurs at night or on a weekend, go to the emergency room of a hospital. Prompt action will save your sight.

Acute glaucoma affects mostly elderly people who are farsighted. It is not a common condition however it does run in families. So people over forty with relatives who have had the condition should be aware of the symptoms and seek early attention. Both men and women are vulnerable.

Chronic glaucoma is more insidious as it does not provide any clear, dramatic warning symptoms as acute glaucoma does. The blockage occurs gradually over a period of time and the person will not notice any outward symptoms. And, unfortunately, chronic glaucoma is far more common than acute glaucoma. It also runs in families and affects people over age forty. The only way to detect chronic glaucoma is through an examination by an ophthalmologist. This is why people over age 40 are advised to have a thorough eye examination every two years. The physician employs a process known as tonometry to measure the pressure in both eyeballs.

Although it is impossible to regain any vision that has already been lost, there are treatments available to prevent further loss of vision.

These treatments involve both medications and if the medications are not effective, then surgery. If medication is successful it has to be taken for life. The surgery that may be involved has a very high rate of success.

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