Number of people affected: About 3 million
Who gets it: Seniors over age 60 and African Americans over 40
Symptoms: Peripheral (side) vision gradually fails
Treatments: Eye drops, medication, surgery
Doctors to see: Ophthalmologist

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. It is one of the main causes of blindness in the United States. However, with early treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss. Therefore it is very important that it be diagnosed.

The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers. It connects the retina to the brain. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision.

In the front of the eye is a space called the anterior chamber. A clear fluid flows continuously in and out of the chamber and nourishes nearby tissues. The fluid leaves the chamber at the open angle where the cornea and iris meet. When the fluid reaches the angle, it flows through a spongy meshwork, like a drain, and leaves the eye.

Sometimes, when the fluid reaches the angle, it passes too slowly through the meshwork drain. As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye rises to a level that may damage the optic nerve. When the optic nerve is damaged from increased pressure, open-angle glaucoma—and vision loss—may result. That's why controlling pressure inside the eye is important.

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Source: National Eye Institute

At first, Glaucoma has no symptoms. Vision stays normal, and there is no pain.

However, as the disease progresses, a person with glaucoma may notice his or her side vision gradually failing. That is, objects in front may still be seen clearly, but objects to the side may be missed.

As glaucoma remains untreated, people may miss objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

What To Do If You Have Lost Some Vision from Glaucoma
If you have lost some sight from glaucoma, ask your eye care professional about low vision services and devices that may help you make the most of your remaining vision. Ask for a referral to a specialist in low vision. Many community organizations and agencies offer information about low vision counseling, training, and other special services for people with visual impairments. A nearby school of medicine or optometry may provide low vision services.

The National Eye Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the Federal government's lead agency for vision research that leads to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing visual impairment and blindness. The NIH is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

An eye-care professional will conduct a comprehensive eye exam, which includes:

• Eye Chart: measures how well you see at various distances.
• Visual field test: measures your side (peripheral) vision.
• Dilated eye exam: Drops are placed in your eyes, and the doctor uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems.
• Tonometry: This instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.
• Pachymetry. A numbing drop is applied to your eye. Your eye care professional uses an ultrasonic wave instrument to measure the thickness of your cornea.

There is no cure for glaucoma and vision lost from the disease cannot be restored. Immediate treatment for early stage, open-angle glaucoma can delay progression of the disease. That's why early diagnosis is very important. Glaucoma treatments include:

• Medicines
• Laser trabeculoplasty (laser surgery)
• Conventional surgery

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Source: National Eye Institute

Certain groups of individuals are at high risk for developing glaucoma:

• Everyone over age 60
• African Americans over age 40
• People with a family history of glaucoma
• Anyone with diabetes
• Those taking systemic corticosteroid medications

If you or someone you love is in a high-risk group, encourage them to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years. Remember that lowering eye pressure in the early stages of glaucoma slows progression of the disease and helps save vision.

If you’re caring for a family member with impaired vision due to glaucoma, there are many things you can do to help. A good place to start is by learning as much as you can about the limitations imposed by this eye disease so that you can assist your loved one to function safely and productively at home. Some things to consider include:

• Lighting and Glare Control
  People with glaucoma require higher light levels, yet they have problems with glare, such as light shining into the eyes or reflecting off of shiny object. Contrast sensitivity (the ability to see different shades of the same color) is also affected.
• Magnification
  Magnification is an essential tool for those with low vision, and magnifying devices range from the very simple to increasingly complex technology.
• Independent Living Aids
  There are countless ways to compensate for low vision when trying to set the temperature on the oven, match clothing, or determine the contents of a container. Two main types of living aid systems are tactile and visual.
• Mobility
  Canes and even dogs can be used to help people with low vision to navigate safely. There are numerous other techniques to assist with mobility, such as using a clock face to orient oneself to a room; for example, the sofa is at the 3 o’clock position and the television is at 9 o’clock.

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