Eyes.com – Glaucoma

Eyes.com – Glaucoma

Glaucoma robs people of their vision by damaging the optic nerve. Most, but not all, types of glaucoma involve high pressure inside of the eye. Glaucoma does not produce early warning signs, and must be detected during an eye exam to prevent vision loss. Anyone can develop glaucoma and everyone should have regular glaucoma screening. Those who are at high risk need to be checked for glaucoma every year or two. Do not assume that your regular eye exam includes glaucoma screening. Ask your eye doctor to make sure.

When Glaucoma is a Medical Emergency

In order to save your eyesight, all types of glaucoma need to be detected and treated early. However, there is a form of glaucoma that must be treated immediately and constitutes a medical emergency. It is called angle closure glaucoma or acute angle glaucoma, and it can cause a very rapid increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) quickly causing damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.

Angle closure glaucoma does produce noticeable symptoms that can include:

Nausea and/or vomiting
Vision loss
Seeing halos around lights
Headaches
Eye pain
Red eyes

Common Glaucoma

The most common type of glaucoma is primary open angle glaucoma.

Fluid that is produced inside the eye must have a way to escape or the pressure inside of your eye builds up, damaging the optic nerve. This fluid normally exits through a part of the eye called the open angle. In primary open angle glaucoma the open angle slowly gets clogged and the fluid cannot drain out.

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be treated and managed to prevent vision loss.

The first line of treatment for most patients is the use of special eye drops that keep IOP down to a safe level. There are several different types of drops available. Some work by helping the fluid drain in various ways. Others reduce the production of fluid inside the eye.

Glaucoma can also be treated with surgery that helps the eye drain. There are several types of surgery and they help the eye drain in different ways. Again, the goal is to reduce pressure inside of the eye and stop or prevent damage to the optic nerve.

Medical Marijuana and Glaucoma

You may have heard people say that marijuana use is the only way to save your vision if you have glaucoma.

In the early 1970’s, studies found that smoking marijuana lowered IOP in people with glaucoma. Today, medical marijuana is becoming more accepted both socially and legally for many conditions. Experts disagree on its efficacy as a treatment for glaucoma. When the potential benefits of marijuana for glaucoma patients were first discovered we did not have some of the effective glaucoma medications that we have today.