Dorothy L. Tengler Aging seems to rob us many things=96youthful appearance, = muscle=20 mass, and perfect eyesight. But there are certain measures = we can=20 take to maintain healthy eyes, especially once we=92re past = age 35,=20 including periodic eye checkups by an ophthalmologist for = glaucoma.=20 Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in = America and=20 has no early warning signs. In fact, a quarter million = Americans or=20 more may currently have glaucoma and not even know it. = Glaucoma is=20 the number one cause of blindness in African-Americans and = the=20 second-leading cause in the general population, according to = the=20 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Chronic glaucoma=96which = accounts=20 for most glaucoma cases=96often goes undetected for years, = resulting=20 in significant and permanent damage to the eyes. Once = you=92ve lost=20 your eyesight to glaucoma, it never comes back. In glaucoma, the peripheral vision is gradually lost. The = process=20 can be so gradual that it goes unnoticed by the person = affected.=20 Central vision=96the ability to see straight ahead=96to = recognize=20 objects and to read=96remains essentially normal until the = last stages=20 of the disease. What can you do to prevent glaucoma? Prompt diagnosis and = treatment can prevent blindness and severe vision loss. Even = if you=20 have no visual symptoms, you should have periodic eye = checkups. A=20 simple 10-minute test called tonometry allows your physician = to=20 determine the pressure within your eye. A dilated pupil exam = also is=20 very important because it gives your physician a clear view = of the=20 interior of your eye and allows him or her to see if there = is any=20 damage to the optic nerve. This nerve, which transmits = sight, is the=20 nerve damaged by advancing glaucoma. Drug treatment usually = helps=20 lower the pressure caused by glaucoma and surgery, if = needed, can=20 open a blocked channel or create an artificial one. Exactly what happens in glaucoma? The vision loss from glaucoma results from the pressure = of the=20 built-up fluid within the eye. Fluid normally passes through = a space=20 between the colored portion of your eye (iris) and the = transparent=20 membrane structure behind it (lens) and drains out of the = eye=20 through a channel that leads to a system of small veins = outside the=20 eye. If this outward flow is blocked, pressure can damage = the optic=20 nerve=96the nerve that transmits vision=96and thus reduces = your ability=20 to see. Although the reasons are unknown, African-Americans = seem be=20 at greater risk for developing glaucoma perhaps because they = have a=20 greater susceptibility to high fluid pressure inside the = eye.=20 Another group who should be checked more frequently include = people=20 age 65 or older. References: Charles Clayman MD, ed. The Human Body. = Dorling=20 Kindersley Publishing Company, NY, NY, 1995.The Glaucoma = Foundation: About Glaucoma. National=20 Institute on Aging: Aging and Your Eyes | |