January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the disease that causes both vision loss and blindness in the USA.
The UMHS Endeavour looks at what glaucoma is, the symptoms and screening methods for future doctors at American and Caribbean medical schools.
Glaucoma Facts
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve of the eye, causing vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness in the USA, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI) website.
With early treatment of glaucoma, vision loss can be minimized. However, if left undetected, vision loss from glaucoma cannot be restored.
“Glaucoma starts with a buildup of fluid that increases the pressure in your eye and can cause damage to the optic nerve, the bundle of nerve fibers that transfers visual images to your brain. Glaucoma first affects your peripheral, or side, vision. As the disease advances, more noticeable vision loss will occur, and if not controlled, the disease can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness,” says the NEI article “You Could Have Glaucoma and Not Even Know It.”
Early detection is crucial. “If glaucoma is detected in its early stages, pressure can be controlled through medication or surgery, and the progression of the disease can be delayed,” says Dr. Paul Sieving, director of the National Eye Institute (NEI). “Early detection by having a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years is key to protecting vision, especially if you are at higher risk.”
The following people are at higher risk for glaucoma:
- African Americans age 40 or older
- People over age 60, especially if you are of Hispanic/Latino descent
- People with a family history of the disease
Get a Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exam
The NEI recommends high-risk individuals to get a comprehensive eye exam. This is an eye health examination that is given by optometrists and ophthalmologists. In a comprehensive dilated eye exam, which checks for glaucoma and other eye diseases, doctors put drops in the eyes to widen the pupil and look at the optic nerve for evidence of any unusual changes in the normal appearance. Of course when any type of Medical Eye professional is screening for Glaucoma, checking the intraocular pressure is the most important test to receive.
Everyone at higher risk should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam, which is different from the basic eye exam for glasses. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is a procedure in which an eye care professional places drops in your eyes to widen the pupil and looks at the optic nerve for signs of the disease.
For more information, visit www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma or call NEI at 301–496–5248.
(Top photo) GET A COMPREHENSIVE DILATED EYE EXAM: If you’re at risk for glaucoma, ask an eye-care professional about getting this exam. Photo: Courtesy of National Eye Institute
About UMHS:
Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciencesfocuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, “personalized medical education,” and it’s what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada. UMHS is challenging everything you thought you knew about Caribbean medical schools.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
