Show #387 Airing Sunday, 5/13/07
It's no secret that our eyesight changes as we age. But how can we tell the difference between the normal aging process and something more serious like glaucoma? Here to explain how "foresight" can help protect our eyesight is a true visionary, Dr. Sam Salamon, an ophthalmologist from the Corrective Eye Center.
Question: What exactly is glaucoma and is it a normal part of aging?
Answer: When someone has glaucoma, optic nerve damage leads to peripheral vision loss. If glaucoma goes untreated, permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss can progress to blindness.
Glaucoma is called the "sneak thief" of eyesight and is painless. Worldwide, it is the second leading cause of blindness. Glaucoma affects 1 in 200 people aged 50 and younger and 1 in 10 over the age of 80.
Question: Who is more likely to develop glaucoma?
Answer: Family history, age, race, and myopia (nearsightedness) are all risk factors to developing glaucoma. Those with high pressure in the eye are more at risk as well.
Question: Are there symptoms?
Answer: No symptoms! Open angle glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among adults in the United States and is particularly dangerous because it can progress gradually and go unnoticed for years. The only way to detect the disease before it becomes a serious problem is with regular eye examinations that include a simple, painless pressure test. The disease usually affects both eyes.
Question: How is glaucoma diagnosed?
Answer: Optic nerve evaluation, visual field testing (checking the range of vision), and evaluating risk factors help us to diagnose glaucoma.
Question: What are the treatment options if you have glaucoma? Drugs? Surgical options?
Answer: In Europe, Canada or Japan, lasers are first line of treatment. (SLT laser) This treatment is done in the office, is safe, and has no side effects or compliance issues. It has been used in the United States since 1980.
When a chronic disease can be treated by an in-office, painless treatment, avoiding local and systemic side effects, costs and forgetfulness, that's an exciting option.
Don't be blindsided by glaucoma. For more information on screenings and treatment, give the Corrective Eye Center a call at the number that's next. My thanks to Dr. Sam Salamon.
