Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. In the United States alone, there are about 3 million people living with glaucoma, with an estimated 64 million affected worldwide. While current treatments, including medication and surgery, can help slow the progression of the disease, there is no complete cure. Research has shown that lifestyle choices can impact intraocular pressure, a key risk factor for glaucoma.
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and in the United States, and it is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans and Hispanics. Unfortunately, only about half of those with glaucoma are aware they have it. While glaucoma can develop at any age, its incidence is six times higher in people over 60 compared to other age groups.
Once glaucoma causes damage to the eyes, it is irreversible. However, if detected early and treated properly, further vision loss can be prevented. The main goal of glaucoma treatment is to halt the progression of vision loss or prevent it from occurring altogether.
Dr. Alan Chan, an ophthalmologist at On Lok, explained that the primary mechanism of glaucoma involves the fluid in the eye that helps nourish it. New fluid is constantly pumped in, while older fluid is drained out.
“When more fluid enters the eye than can be drained, intraocular pressure rises, putting pressure on the optic nerve and potentially leading to cataracts,.” Dr. Chan explains. “If the increased pressure is due to the eye’s structure, it can result in a more severe form of glaucoma called angle-closure glaucoma, which may require emergency treatment. On the other hand, if the pressure increase is caused by excessive fluid production or insufficient drainage, it results in open-angle glaucoma, a more common condition in the United States that progresses more slowly.” Both types of glaucoma, if left untreated, can lead to permanent vision impairment, including blurred vision and visual field defects.
While diabetes, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular diseases do not directly cause glaucoma, they can lead to the growth of abnormal blood vessels. These vessels can obstruct the eye's drainage system, potentially resulting in glaucoma.
“Glaucoma is mainly an autosomal recessive genetic disease, and common treatments include eye drops and surgery,” added Dr. Chan. “Some eye drops can reduce the amount of fluid secreted from the eyeball, and some eye drops can increase the amount of fluid flowing out of the eyeball. Laser surgery may also be used to provide more drainage channels, or cataract surgery for narrow-angle glaucoma to provide more room for fluid to drain out.”
Regarding how to prevent glaucoma, he suggests “eating a balanced diet, doing more exercise, reducing caffeine intake, not smoking, sleeping with your head slightly elevated, and avoiding fried foods.”
Dr. Chan also suggest regular eye examinations. “Half of glaucoma patients do not know that they have glaucoma because there are no early symptoms. The only way to check for it is to have regular comprehensive eye examinations. If you are under 40, you should have an eye exam at least every two years. If your doctor thinks you are at risk for glaucoma, or over age 60, you should have an annual eye exam.
Original Source: World Journal, January 2024
