Most Americans are aware of the dangers of hypertension (high blood pressure). In fact, we’re reminded of the importance of keeping blood pressure under control through the routine blood pressure check that starts off almost every visit to the doctor. But how many of us are aware of the dangers of ocular hypertension — a buildup of fluid pressure in the eyes that often leads to glaucoma?

Awareness of glaucoma, or lack thereof, can be largely attributed to the fact it is largely a silent disease until late in the disease process when damage already has been done.

The disorder also is invisible, even to those already diagnosed. Patients don’t experience symptoms: they can see well enough, and there’s no pain. As a result, there’s often a tendency to minimize the importance of daily treatment.

Glaucoma develops when the fluid (aqueous humor) produced by the eye fails to drain properly. This fluid normally circulates in the chamber of the eye between the cornea and the lens. Glaucoma affects more than 2.2 million Americans, most of them seniors.

Although there’s no cure for glaucoma, it can be treated and controlled, preventing further damage to eyes. Left untreated, it can progress and interfere with peripheral vision, leaving patients with only the central visual field intact, a condition often called tunnel vision. Uncontrolled glaucoma also can lead to blindness. In fact, glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in both eyes in the world. Diabetes ranks first.

In an ideal world, glaucoma always would be diagnosed at an early stage, before serious damage has occurred. Once diagnosed, it can be treated with either medication or surgery.

Glaucoma testing is performed by ophthalmologists as well as optometrists. Regular testing is recommended for adults, especially for those older than age 60 who should have a complete eye exam from a physician every two years.

When glaucoma is diagnosed, two of every three patients will be able to manage the condition with medicated eye drops. One in three patients eventually will require at least one surgical treatment. Follow-up surgical treatments often are necessary.

Medication to treat glaucoma works by reducing the amount of aqueous humor produced by the eye or by increasing the drainage. Many of the available drugs do both.

Patient compliance is one of the biggest challenges physicians face in treating patients with glaucoma. Patients often forget to use their drops, fail to refill prescriptions or just don’t seem to realize how crucial it is to use the drops to control pressure every day.

One ophthalmologist noted because patients may not be experiencing any noticeable symptoms, it’s easy for them to underestimate the potential seriousness of the disease. He stresses physicians have a key role to play in educating patients and encouraging them to stay motivated with treatment.

Glaucoma has the potential to damage eyesight and even to cause blindness. Yet the ability to protect our eyes with regular screening and treatment gives us the power to protect one of our most precious senses. A little preventive care can keep your eyes safe from this all too common but preventable cause of blindness.



Rupp is information and assistance case manager with the Northern Oklahoma Development Authority Area Agency on Aging.