Glaucoma Region XI “The Hot Splinters”. Definition A group of diseases caused by damage to the optic nerve that can gradually eliminate all sight A group.

GlaucomaGlaucomaRegion XIRegion XI

“The Hot Splinters”“The Hot Splinters”

DefinitionDefinition

A group of diseases caused by A group of diseases caused by damage to the optic nerve that can damage to the optic nerve that can gradually eliminate all sightgradually eliminate all sight

eye-health-conditions-eye-health-conditions-glaucoma.action.htmglaucoma.action.htm

(Source: PearleVision.com)(Source: PearleVision.com)

Affected parts of the eyeAffected parts of the eye

Optic NerveOptic Nerve

Ciliary BodyCiliary Body

Angle of the Angle of the Anterior Anterior ChamberChamber

Glaucoma can be:Glaucoma can be:

CongenitalCongenital AdventitiousAdventitious ProgressiveProgressive Stable when Stable when

managed managed medicallymedically

Multiple Types of Multiple Types of GlaucomaGlaucoma

Congenital:Congenital: inherited condition appearing in infants, inherited condition appearing in infants,

incomplete development of the drainage incomplete development of the drainage canals during the prenatal periodcanals during the prenatal period

Secondary:Secondary: results from another cause such as drugs, results from another cause such as drugs,

injury, tumor, inflammationinjury, tumor, inflammation

Multiple types of Multiple types of GGlaucomalaucoma

Primary/Open Angle: Primary/Open Angle: most common form, the most common form, the

correct amount of fluid can’t correct amount of fluid can’t drain out of the eye (clogged drain out of the eye (clogged pipe)pipe)

Angle Closure Angle Closure Glaucoma: Glaucoma: rarest form, eye pressure rarest form, eye pressure

rises quickly when drainage rises quickly when drainage canals are blocked/covered canals are blocked/covered (sink stopper)(sink stopper)

Three Parameters of Three Parameters of GlaucomaGlaucoma

1. Origin1. Origin Primary (ideopathic: disease has an unknown Primary (ideopathic: disease has an unknown

cause)cause) Secondary (associated with other ocular or systemic Secondary (associated with other ocular or systemic

conditions)conditions)

2. State of anterior chamber angle 2. State of anterior chamber angle open angle open angle closed angleclosed angle

3. Chronicity 3. Chronicity Acute: short durationAcute: short duration Chronic: ongoingChronic: ongoing

Diagnostic AssessmentDiagnostic Assessment TonometerTonometer: :

measures pressuremeasures pressure PachymeterPachymeter: :

measures corneal thicknessmeasures corneal thickness Visual field testVisual field test: :

measures peripheral visionmeasures peripheral vision OphthalmoscopyOphthalmoscopy: :

direct observation of optic direct observation of optic nervenerve

Imaging TechnologyImaging Technology: : scans optic nerve and scans optic nerve and retinal nerve fiberretinal nerve fiber

GonioscopyGonioscopy: use of mirrors : use of mirrors to see interior of eyeto see interior of eye

StagesStages

Initially, no symptoms, pain, or loss Initially, no symptoms, pain, or loss of vision of vision

Loss of peripheral visionLoss of peripheral vision Visual field gradually narrows into Visual field gradually narrows into

tunnel vision tunnel vision If allowed to progress without If allowed to progress without

treatment, leads to complete loss of treatment, leads to complete loss of sightsight

Treatment: Treatment: increase fluid drainage or decrease fluid increase fluid drainage or decrease fluid

productionproduction Medicated Eye Medicated Eye

Drops Drops Oral PrescriptionsOral Prescriptions

BetaganBetagan PilocarpinePilocarpine PropinePropine

TimopticTimoptic SurgerySurgery

TraditionalTraditional LaserLaser

Key FactsKey Facts

Affects 65 million people worldwideAffects 65 million people worldwide There is no cureThere is no cure Glaucoma is one of the leading causes Glaucoma is one of the leading causes

of blindnessof blindness The leading cause of blindness in The leading cause of blindness in

African Americans (6-8 times more African Americans (6-8 times more common than in Caucasians) common than in Caucasians)

Accounts for over seven million Accounts for over seven million physician visits annuallyphysician visits annually

Functional ImplicationsFunctional Implications

Activities of daily life Activities of daily life (driving, sports, etc) (driving, sports, etc) may be affected by:may be affected by: Decreased contrast Decreased contrast

sensitivitysensitivity Light sensitivityLight sensitivity Difficulty with glareDifficulty with glare

Need to establish Need to establish new habits and new habits and routines for routines for medicationmedication

National Glaucoma Day!National Glaucoma Day!

110110thth Congressional House Resolution Congressional House Resolution #981 was passed to increase #981 was passed to increase awareness about glaucomaawareness about glaucoma

First annual Glaucoma Awareness Day: First annual Glaucoma Awareness Day:

March 6, 2008March 6, 2008 Next annual Glaucoma Awareness Day: Next annual Glaucoma Awareness Day:

April 12, 2010April 12, 2010

SourcesSources Cassin, Barbara (2006). Dictionary of Eye Terminology (p. 120-121). Cassin, Barbara (2006). Dictionary of Eye Terminology (p. 120-121).

Gainesville, Florida: Triad Publishing Company.Gainesville, Florida: Triad Publishing Company. Goldberg, S. & Trattler, W. (2009). Ophthalmology made ridiculously Goldberg, S. & Trattler, W. (2009). Ophthalmology made ridiculously

simple (p. 3, 27-30). Miami, Florida: MedMaster, Inc.simple (p. 3, 27-30). Miami, Florida: MedMaster, Inc. Lueck, Amanda Hall (2004). Functional Vision A practitioner’s guide to Lueck, Amanda Hall (2004). Functional Vision A practitioner’s guide to

evaluation and intervention (p. 480). New York: AFB press.evaluation and intervention (p. 480). New York: AFB press. Levack, Nancy (1994). LowVision (p.134). Austin, Tx: TSBVI.Levack, Nancy (1994). LowVision (p.134). Austin, Tx: TSBVI. Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 6, 2009. Website: Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 6, 2009. Website: http://http://www.glaucoma.orgwww.glaucoma.org// Glaucoma Facts. Retrieved on July 6, 2009. Website:Glaucoma Facts. Retrieved on July 6, 2009. Website: http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts.asp http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts.asp Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 7, 2009. Website: Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 7, 2009. Website:

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/glaucoma.htmhttp://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/glaucoma.htm Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 7, 2009. Website: Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 7, 2009. Website:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/glaucoma.htmlhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/glaucoma.html Eye Health – Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 7, 2009. Website: Eye Health – Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 7, 2009. Website:

http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/glaucoma-eyeshttp://www.webmd.com/eye-health/glaucoma-eyes Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 6, 2009. Website: Glaucoma. Retrieved on July 6, 2009. Website:

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http://www.pearlevision.com/vision-health/eye-health-conditions-http://www.pearlevision.com/vision-health/eye-health-conditions-glaucoma.action glaucoma.action