Define Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the optic nerve and causes cloudiness of vision and deterioration of eyesight that can eventually lead to blindness if untreated, due to lost communication between the eye and the brain.

History

• The etymological roots of the word glaucoma lie in the ancient times of Hippocrates. It means a bluish-green color, rather like that of seawater. Hippocrates used it to refer to certain disorders of the eye including types of cataract.

Features

• Symptoms of glaucoma include cloudy or blurred vision, chronic eye pain, severe headache, flashing lights in the eyes, nausea and vomiting.

Considerations

• You are at higher risk of glaucoma if you are over 60, are Asian or African-American, suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. If you are in one of the high-risk groups you may want to get your eyes tested for glaucoma annually.

Prevention/Solution

• Glaucoma can be treated with medications such as beta blockers or alpha agonists. If the glaucoma is severe, it can be treated with laser surgery.

Warning

• Unfortunately, you may have glaucoma for some time without having experienced any symptoms. Symptoms often do not show until the disease is quite advanced. You should have regular eye exams, at least every two years, so that your optometrist can test you for glaucoma.