JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Almost everyone has heard the term glaucoma but few really know what it is. Do you?
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness in the world. It is a disease of the optic nerve which is a large bundle of nerve fibers that carries visual information from your eye to your brain. In glaucoma these nerve fibers start to die at an accelerated rate which can eventually lead to vison loss and, in some cases, blindness. The most common form of glaucoma is termed primary open angle glaucoma.
Although glaucoma can occur at any age it becomes more prevalent as we get older. The most important risk factors for developing glaucoma are a family history or elevated intraocular pressure. Unfortunately, not everybody knows their family history and glaucoma is often a subject people don't like to talk about. Elevated eye pressure is normally symptom free so afflicted individuals are often unaware they have a problem until significant vision loss has occurred.
Glaucoma is treatable. The most common treatment for glaucoma is an eye drop which helps lower pressure within the eye. Laser treatments are also used to lower eye pressure by allowing fluid to more easily exit the eye. Laser treatments only last about 2-3 years, however, and often need to be repeated. Surgical treatment is possible in more advanced cases and often provides the greatest benefit as far as pressure reduction but carries additional risks.
"Glaucoma is challenging because vision loss is usually very slow and painless. Sometimes I wish that glaucoma hurt, which would alert people that something was wrong and prompt them to seek treatment. Often by the time people seek care, the disease is quite advanced and the vision loss is irreversible. This is why early screening is so important," said Maj. (Dr.) Cousineau Krieger, Ophthalmology chief, 779th Surgical Operations Squadron.
"Other common risk factors for glaucoma include: being over age 65, African American race, thin corneas, family history of glaucoma and high pressures. The only risk factor we can modify is the high pressure, which is why all of our treatments are aimed at lowering pressures. If people have risk factors, they should seek screening," said Krieger.
The best way to know if you are at risk for glaucoma is to have a baseline eye exam that includes at minimum a pressure check and eye dilation. A dilated exam is important because it allows your doctor to visualize the optic nerve to look for changes that can occur in glaucoma.
Military beneficiaries may schedule a baseline eye exam and pressure check with the Optometry Clinic by calling the appointment line at 1 (888) 999-1212. If further testing is indicated, the member will be given a referral to the Ophthalmology Clinic.