Glaucoma is a disease that causes vision loss by damaging the optic nerve, which is the nerve that transmits visual signals from the eyes to the brain. While there is currently no cure for the disease, treatment can slow the progression of glaucoma and prevent blindness.
The World Health Organization reports that glaucoma is the world’s second most common cause of blindness. It often causes few if any symptoms. Most people in the early stages of the disease lose their peripheral vision first, so vision loss can become substantial before the glaucoma sufferer notices it.
Some people are at a higher risk of glaucoma than others. These include people of African, Hispanic, or Asian ancestry. Other people who might be at an increased risk of glaucoma include:
People older than 60
Diabetics
People with severe myopia, or nearsightedness
Family members of people with glaucoma
Tests for glaucoma may measure the pressure inside your eye, since the two most common types of glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, and primary open-angle glaucoma, cause an increase in pressure inside the eye. However, not all forms of glaucoma cause pressure inside the eye to increase. Other methods of diagnosing glaucoma include:
Checking the optic nerve for damage. Your doctor can do this by looking into your eyes with specialized instruments.
Peripheral vision and visual acuity tests.
Pachymetry is a test that measures the thickness of your cornea. Corneal thickness is another symptom of glaucoma.
If Dr. Mohanan suspects glaucoma, she may perform additional tests and refer you to an ophthalmologist.
What is your glaucoma risk?
