Glaucoma is a serious condition that involves increased pressure inside the eye and can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated. It is more common in African Americans and tends to run in families. While it causes no symptoms initially, over time it can destroy peripheral vision and eventually central vision without treatment through eyedrops, pills, laser therapy or surgery. Regular comprehensive eye exams are important for early detection and treatment to prevent vision loss from glaucoma.

1. All About Glaucoma

2. What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a serious condition that involves an
elevation in pressure inside the eye caused by a build-up
of excess fluid. Left untreated, it can destroy the optic
nerve, which is the main nerve of the eye.
In most cases, it is a painless disease…and there are no
symptoms other than loss of vision, which can occur so
gradually that many people do not realize it is
happening.
Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be treated. It if is
spotted in its early stages, blindness can almost always
be prevented.

3. Normal Vision vs. Vision with
Glaucoma Glaucoma effects your
peripheral vision first
and if left untreated
can lead to permanent
blindness.

4. Causes
Blocked drainage system (trabecular meshwork)
Increased fluid production in the eye
Increased pressure of the eye
Can occur even with normal intraocular pressures
(normal tension glaucoma)
Optic nerve damage occurs at different pressures for
individuals
This damage is irreversible

5. Types of Glaucoma
Primary
Angle- Open-Angle
Closure
Glaucoma
Glaucoma
(most Acute
Normal common) Angle-
Tension closure
Glaucoma Glaucoma
Pigmentary
Secondary Glaucoma
Glaucoma
(resulting from eye Childhood
trauma, eye Glaucoma
disease, diabetes, o
r certain
medications)

6. Risk Factors
 Race – African Americans and Hispanics
 Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-
Americans
 People of Asian descent are at risk of developing acute-angle
glaucoma
 Heredity – Family history of glaucoma
 Age – People over 60; African-Americans over 40
 People with severe myopia/hyperopia
 Increased eye pressure
 Use of steroids
 Diabetes
 Hypertension (high blood pressure)
 Obesity
 Vigorous Exercise (with pigmentary glaucoma)

7. Detection of Glaucoma
 Immediate treatment for glaucoma can delay progression of the
disease. That's why early diagnosis is very important.
 People at risk should receive a comprehensive dilated eye exam
regularly – every one to two years. During a comprehensive eye
examine, the eye doctor will dilate the pupils, measure eye
pressure (IOP), and test the visual field.

8. How often to See Your Eye Doctor
 Do NOT wait until a change in your vision occurs.
 A comprehensive eye exam should be performed every three to five years
at age 40, unless you have risk factors for developing glaucoma (in this
case, every one to two years)
 After 60, a comprehensive eye exam should be performed every year.
 Regardless of risk factors, it is advised to have an eye exam
every one to two years – early detection of any eye disease can
save your vision and/or prevent further vision loss.

9. Symptoms & Treatment
 In most cases, there are no early  Glaucoma cannot be
symptoms, causing no pain. cured, but can be maintained
 Unless the pressure is very through:
high, elevated eye pressure  Medication (usually in the
cannot be felt. form of eye drops)
 Laser Therapy
 Acute angle-closure glaucoma
symptoms may include blurred  Selective Laser
Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
vision, nausea, headaches, and
halos around bright light  90% of glaucoma
patients are
 First, peripheral vision begins candidates
deteriorating.  Argon Laser
 Once vision loss occurs, it Trabeculoplasty (ALT)
cannot be restored because the  Filtration Surgery
optic nerves have been  Alternative to
destroyed trabeculectomy

10. Preventing Glaucoma
 Regular eye exams
 Detects glaucoma before irreparable damage occurs
 Treat elevated eye pressure
 Lowering eye pressure can decrease the chances that it
will lead to glaucoma
 Control weight and blood pressure
 Insulin resistance is linked to elevated intraocular
pressure (the pressure inside the eye)
 Wear eye protection
 Secondary glaucoma can result from eye injuries

11. A Preventative Lifestyle
 Regular exercise and a
nutritious diet
 Avoid alcohol, excessive
caffeine, and smoking – all of
these can increase intraocular
pressure
 Certain foods can help preserve
your vision
 These guidelines are
good to follow to
help prevent most
eye diseases

12. A Healthy Diet for Your Eyes
 Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, such as
spinach, Swiss chard and endive. Salad
greens contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin,
plant pigments with powerful antioxidant
properties that protect the eye.
 Limit sugar intake and control
blood sugar levels. Diabetes may
increase the risk of glaucoma in
women, according to the Nurses'
Health Study, the results of which
appeared in the July 2006 issue of
"Ophthalmology." Obesity is also
related to elevated eye pressure.

13.  Avoid lots of red meats, and focus on wild-caught
fish and seafood as sources of Vitamin E and Zinc.
Eat foods high in Omega-3s, or consider taking a
pharmaceutical-grade fish oil to supplement your
diet.

14.  Add a serving of dark berries
to a daily meal. These
berries, plus orange and
yellow fruits and
vegetables, contain
carotenoids, which are
necessary for good vision.

15. More Ways to a Healthy Vision
 Consult with your doctor and ask whether vitamins
supplements are right for you. Make an appointment
with a registered dietician who can help develop a diet
plan specific to your needs.
 Control blood pressure and
other medical conditions
 New studies show that aerobic
exercise may actually decrease
intraocular pressure briefly.
 Avoid vigorous weight lifting
and inverted yoga positions – as
these will tend to increase
intraocular pressure

16. Test your Eye-Q
TRUE FALSE
 Glaucoma is more common in
African- Americans than in
Whites
 Glaucoma tends to run in families
 A person can have glaucoma and
not know it
 People over 60 are more likely to
get glaucoma
 Eye pain is often a symptom of
glaucoma

17. Test your Eye-Q
TRUE FALSE
 Glaucoma can be controlled
 Glaucoma is caused by increased eye
pressure
 Vision loss from glaucoma can be
restored
 A complete glaucoma exam consists
only of measuring eye pressure
 People at risk for glaucoma should have
an eye examination through dilated
pupils

18. Summary of Glaucoma
 Glaucoma is three to four times more likely to occur in African
Americans than in Whites. In addition, glaucoma is six times
more likely to cause blindness in African Americans than in
Whites.
 Although glaucoma tends to run in families, a hereditary basis
has not been established. If someone in your immediate family
has glaucoma, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye
examination every one to two years.
 The early stages of open-angle glaucoma, the most common
form, usually have no warning signs. However, as the disease
progresses, a person with glaucoma may notice his or her side
vision gradually failing.
 Everyone over age 60 is at an increased risk for
glaucoma, especially Mexican Americans. Other groups at
increased risk are African Americans over age 40 and people with
a family history of glaucoma. Children and babies can also
develop glaucoma.

19.  People with glaucoma usually do not experience pain from
the disease.
 Although glaucoma cannot be cured, it can usually be
controlled by eyedrops or pills, conventional surgery, or
laser surgery. Sometimes eye care professionals will
recommend a combination of surgery and medication.
 Increased eye pressure means you are at increased risk for
glaucoma, but does not mean you have the disease. A
person has glaucoma only if the optic nerve is damaged. If
you have increased eye pressure but no damage to the optic
nerve, you do not have glaucoma. Follow the advice of your
doctor.
 Vision loss from glaucoma is permanent. However, with
early detection and treatment, the progression of vision
loss can be slowed or halted, and the risk of blindness
reduced.

20.  A measurement of eye pressure
by Tonometry, though an
important part of a
comprehensive eye exam, is, by
itself, not sufficient for the
detection of glaucoma.
 Glaucoma is detected most often during an eye examination through
dilated pupils. Drops are put into the eyes during the exam to enlarge
the pupils, which allows the eye care professional to see more of the
inside of the eye to check for signs of glaucoma. When indicated, a
visual field test should also be performed.

21.  You only have one pair of eyes, so routine eye exams
are the best way to ensure that they are healthy! No
matter at what age, routine eye exams should be
important to you. Don’t wait until you notice vision
loss to get an eye exam. You may never regain what
vision has been lost.
Presented by The Eye Center of
Texas
www.eyecenteroftexas.com