Glaucoma: A Guide to the Cause, Testing and Treatment Options

Glaucoma, a condition of vision loss resulting from optic nerve damage. Sometimes resulting from increased optical pressure and, at other times, caused by injury. Within increased incidences of occurrence, understanding risk factors, the deterioration process for developing glaucoma and the treatment options may help to decrease the level of occurrence.

Statistically, glaucoma affects adults over the age of 60 and African Americans six to eight times more likely than individuals under the age of 60 and of different race. A family history of glaucoma also adds a significant increase in the incidence of occurrence at a rate of four to nine times. Use of steroids, as in the treatment of asthma, has also shown an occurrence of up to 40 percent likelihood. And, of course, any significant eye injury, will increase the risk for the condition.

Glaucoma is the term for visual loss resulting from optic nerve damage. Normally, this damage results from elevated eye pressure resulting from the eye’s inability to drain intraocular fluid. Intraocular fluid is produced by the cilary body which flows through the pupil area and then drains through the canals which surround the edge of the iris. Under normal conditions, this drainage process occurs without incident, resulting in normal eye pressure and fluid reabsorbed into the bloodstream. When this process does not occur properly, the intraocular fluid pressure will build resulting in optic nerve damage thus leading to glaucoma.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for a glaucoma condition. Optometry recommendations list eye exams as necessary every two years with test including perimetry, a visual field test, gonioscopy, iris angle measurements, pachymetry, to measure corneal thickness, tonometry, to measure eye pressure, opthalmoscopy, an exam of the color and shape of the optic nerve. Of course, all of these tests are not routinely part of the eye exam, but, once identified as a patient with IOP, these follow up tests are recommended to monitor the progression of the disease.