Glaucoma (cont.)
What is in the future for glaucoma?
New eye drops will continue to become available for the treatment of glaucoma. Some drops will be new classes of agents. Other drops will combine some already existing agents into one bottle to achieve an additive effect and to make it easier and cheaper for patients to take their medication.
Many researchers are investigating the therapeutic role of neuroprotection of the optic nerve, especially in patients who seem to be having progressive nerve damage and visual field loss, despite relatively normal intraocular pressures. Animal models have shown that certain chemical mediators can reduce injury or death of nerve cells. Proving such a benefit for the human optic nerve, however, is more difficult because, for one thing, biopsy or tissue specimens are not readily available. Nevertheless, if any of these mediators in eye drops can be shown to protect the human optic nerve from glaucomatous damage, this would be a wonderful advance in preventing blindness.
In other studies, new surgical methods are being evaluated to lower the intraocular pressure more safely without significant risk of damage to the eye or loss of vision.
Finally, increased efforts to enhance public awareness of glaucoma, national free screenings for those individuals at risk, and earlier diagnosis and treatment are our best hopes to reduce vision loss from glaucoma.
- Glaucoma is a disease that is often associated with
elevated intraocular pressure, in which damage to the eye (optic) nerve can
lead to loss of vision and even blindness.
- Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the
world.
- Glaucoma usually causes no symptoms early in its
course, at which time it can only be diagnosed by regular eye examinations
(screenings with the frequency of examination based on age and the presence of other risk factors).
- Intraocular pressure increases when either too much
fluid is produced in the eye or the drainage or outflow channels (trabecular
meshwork) of the eye become blocked.
- While anyone can get glaucoma, some people are at
greater risk.
- The two main types of glaucoma are open-angle
glaucoma, which has several variants and is a long duration (chronic)
condition, and closed-angle glaucoma, which is a sudden (acute) condition.
- Damage to the optic nerve and impairment of vision
from glaucoma are irreversible.
- Several painless tests that determine the intraocular
pressure, the status of the optic nerve and drainage angle, and visual fields
are used to diagnose glaucoma.
- Glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops, although
lasers and surgery can also be used. Most cases can be controlled well with
these treatments, thereby preventing further loss of vision.
- Much research into the causes and treatment of
glaucoma is being carried out throughout the world.
- Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preserving sight in people
with glaucoma.
Last Editorial Review: 4/23/2007
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