From Glaucoma makes fluid (called the aqueous humor) to stay inflated. In a healthy eye, there is a balance between how much fluid stays in the eye and how much leaves it. In the eye with glaucoma, fluid builds up, causing intraocular pressure (IOP) to rise. This pressure eventually damages the optic nerve, the nerve fibers that carry images to the brain. Tests for Glaucoma There are several tests for glaucoma, and Medicare covers 80% of your costs. There is the visual acuity, or 20/20 test, where an eye professional examines how well you see near and far. Another exam is the visual field test, where you are checked for how well you see ahead and to the side. “A very important test is the tonometry test, which checks fluid pressure inside the eye,” Boles says. Current recommendations define “normal” pressure as falling anywhere between 12 and 22 mm HG (millimeters of mercury), with most people averaging 15 to 16 mm HG. One caution about pressure readings. “There is one form of glaucoma called ‘normal-tension glaucoma’ in which the disease exists, but the eye pressure reads normal. We don’t fully From Macular Degeneration doctors could do for AMD, especially in terms of slowing its progress. In 2001, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) announced a new option to slow AMD in people at high risk for developing its advanced form. Specifically, AREDS recommended a new high-dose formula of antioxidant vitamins and zinc. It is a formulation that needs to be discussed with a doctor to see if it’s right for you—especially since the levels are higher than an average multi-vitamin provides. Laser surgery is a treatment after wet AMD develops, but it is risky and doesn’t necessarily prevent a recurrence. It is generally used only on a small percentage of AMD
Eye drops for glaucoma reduce pressure in the eye.
understand the cause,” Boles says. A new diagnostic is optic nerve imaging. “It’s a major advance for diagnosing glaucoma earlier. It gives a 3-D image of the optic nerve so we can see more clearly if its shape is distorted. That allows us to start treatment sooner so as to minimize any damage,” Boles explains. Treatment Advances “Broadly speaking, there are three treatment options for fighting glaucoma: medications, laser correction, and surgery. Thanks to advances in the first two, we need to use surgery less often,” Boles says. Previously medications called beta blockers and alpha agonists were popular but have the potential for significant side effects, especially among older people. “They can cause congestive heart failure, asthma, and excessively low blood pressure, among other problems. More eye patients. Photodynamic therapy is a painless, 20-minute procedure. The doctor injects a drug in your arm and then activates it by shining a light into your eye. The drug destroys new blood vessels and slows development of others. Eye injections are a newer therapy. The eye is numbed and drugs called anti-VEGF therapy are injected to block the growth factor causing abnormal blood vessels to develop. You may need several sessions, sometimes even monthly, for treatment to be effective. If you doctor has discovered you have AMD and advised treatment, don’t wait. The sooner you begin, the better your chances of fighting extensive deterioration of your vision.
professionals are using a newer class of drugs called prostaglandins, eye drops which have shown minimal side effects,” Boles says. For laser correction, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is the more favored procedure for opening the fluid channels of the eye. “With SLT, the laser targets select cells and the laser can be used at lower levels. It seems to be much safer and is allowing us to repeat the procedure many times without scarring. That’s good news because many times the channel has to be reopened within one to three years,” he says. If a surgical procedure requiring an incision in the eye is necessary, a trabeculectomy is often chosen. It allows the patient to discontinue all medications if it succeeds. However, like all surgeries it has risks. Experts suggest talking with a glaucoma specialist to find out when or if surgery is really necessary. Get Started Now When vision fails, some simple techniques like removing throw rugs and other obstacles that could trip you, can help. Also check the article on low- and high-tech vision aids for ideas and organizations to help you. Boles urges everyone to get checked for glaucoma sooner than later. While latest indications are those most at risk are generally over age 60, a family history of glaucoma, are African-Americans (whose risk starts as young as age 35), “I generally tell people to start getting tested annually at age 40. These are simple tests and we can prevent or at least minimize glaucoma’s damage,” he says. Want more health information? Visit our free Health Secrets archives online at www.EricksonTribune.com.
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