Are You at Risk for Glaucoma?
There are several known risk factors associated with glaucoma including:
- High intraocular pressure (IOP)- pressure of the eye exceeds healthy pressure
- Race – African Americans and Hispanics are at higher risk for glaucoma than European Americans. In fact, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans.
- Heredity – Family history increases risk of glaucoma four to nine times.
- Age – Individuals 60 and older are six times more likely to suffer from glaucoma than younger people
Types of Glaucoma
There are several different types of glaucoma. Although glaucoma is commonly considered a disease of aging, infants and children may experience pediatric glaucoma. Sometimes glaucoma may also be caused by trauma to the eye or side effects of certain medications such as steroids.
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common form of glaucoma and happens when the eyes drainage system – the trabecular meshwork becomes blocked, creating a subsequent rise in IOP.
Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma
The occurrence of this type of glaucoma is much lower than Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.
Learn More About the Different Types of Glaucoma
Early Diagnosis
Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the eye disease as glaucoma is naturally progressive without treatment.
Learn More About Detection
Treatment Options
Today, there is no cure for glaucoma. However, there are treatment options combining medication, laser therapy and surgery that may prevent further or stop vision loss by controlling the number one risk factor of glaucoma – high levels of IOP.
Explore Glaucoma Treatment Options
Medicine
Up to now, controlling unsafe levels of IOP has been primarily accomplished by using eye drops.
Laser Therapy
Advances in laser surgery are providing effective alternatives to treat glaucoma. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or SLT, is a highly effective out-patient laser procedure that reduces IOP by stimulating a natural healing response. SLT, a patented low energy laser treatment method, uses a unique combination of minimal energy and short laser pulses. One-time SLT treatment results in eye pressure drop equivalent to the pressure drop experienced from daily use of eye drops. However, SLT is not associated with the systemic side effects, cost issues, and need for daily use.
Surgery
In surgery a tiny drainage hole is made in the sclera (the white part of the eye). This new hole facilitates fluid outflow which in turn lowers IOP. Another variation of this procedure involves a shunt that is surgically implanted in the eye. The tubes within the shunt decrease IOP by bypassing blocked cellular tissue.
