How old was I when I was diagnosed with glaucoma?
I was diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, 23 years ago in 1994, at age 35. When my optometrist referred me to Dr. Edward Hicks at the Eye Care Center in Canandaigua, my intraocular pressures (IOP), the fluid pressure in my eyes, were very high: 28 on the right and 29 on the left.
How does a person with glaucoma keep their vision?
Most people with glaucoma who follow their treatment plan and have regular eye exams are able to keep their vision. The fluid inside your eye, called aqueous humor, usually flows out of your eye through a mesh-like channel. If this channel gets blocked, the liquid builds up. Sometimes, experts don’t know what causes this blockage.
Can a person with high eye pressure have glaucoma?
For example, a suspicious optic nerve, or even a strong family history of glaucoma, could put someone in the category of a glaucoma suspect. Vision loss from glaucoma occurs when the eye pressure is too high for the specific individual and damages the optic nerve.
Are there other types of glaucoma that occur in seniors?
Though open-angle glaucoma takes up about 90 percent of glaucoma cases, there are other forms of the disease that occur in seniors and can develop quickly or in abnormal circumstances. (There’s a form of glaucoma called congenital glaucoma that occurs in young children that won’t be discussed at length.)
I was diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, 23 years ago in 1994, at age 35. When my optometrist referred me to Dr. Edward Hicks at the Eye Care Center in Canandaigua, my intraocular pressures (IOP), the fluid pressure in my eyes, were very high: 28 on the right and 29 on the left.
Though open-angle glaucoma takes up about 90 percent of glaucoma cases, there are other forms of the disease that occur in seniors and can develop quickly or in abnormal circumstances. (There’s a form of glaucoma called congenital glaucoma that occurs in young children that won’t be discussed at length.)
What do you need to know about glaucoma?
The first step in understanding glaucoma is to know how the eye works. The important parts of the eye are shown in the cross-section view to the right. The eye is round and protected by a tough, white wall called the sclera. Part of the white sclera can be seen in the front of the eye.
How is the optic nerve damaged in glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the overarching term for a group of conditions that occur when your optic nerve is damaged, which in turn affects the quality of your vision. There is a buildup of pressure inside your eye, and that pressure damages the optic nerve—the main transmitter of information from your eye to your brain.
Why is age a risk factor for glaucoma?
Overall, these studies show that the percentage of patients with glaucoma increases dramatically with age, especially in patients who are of Latino/Hispanic and African descent. Why is Age a Risk Factor for Glaucoma?
Who is most likely to have open angle glaucoma?
Like open-angle glaucoma, it’s most common among older people, typically 60 and above. About a quarter of people who experience open-angle glaucoma also experience normal-tension glaucoma at some point.
Overall, these studies show that the percentage of patients with glaucoma increases dramatically with age, especially in patients who are of Latino/Hispanic and African descent. Why is Age a Risk Factor for Glaucoma?
How does a doctor check for glaucoma?
Several factors go into a glaucoma diagnosis. A doctor will check intraocular pressures and perform a dilated eye exam to view the optic nerve. A patient takes a visual field test to identify a complete field of vision, a baseline that is repeated at least annually to monitor any vision loss.
Why is an early eye exam important for glaucoma?
The reason an early eye exam is important is because the earlier stage at which you are diagnosed, the better your chances of not going blind from glaucoma. If you are visiting this webpage because you have already been diagnosed with glaucoma, then let your family members know and encourage them to have a comprehensive eye exam.