Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid in the front of the eye chamber, the
aqueous humor, is blocked from leaving the eye during the normal aqueous
turnover process. This blockage can occur for a number of reasons, the most
common of which is simply poor outflow due to chronic open-angle glaucoma. A
number of other problems can also impede the ability of the outflow channels to
function properly, thus creating elevated IOP. Glaucoma is rarely if ever a
disease of excessive aqueous humor production. An eye doctor, your
ophthalmologist or optometrist, can usually detect those individuals who are at
risk for glaucoma. These patients are called "glaucoma suspects" and must be
monitored closely for subtle changes in their visual field or in their optic
nerve.
There are many risk factors for glaucoma, including:
family history of glaucoma
,
anatomical variations including narrow
filtering angles or anatomical damage to the filtering angles
excessively high myopia, generally greater than 6 diopters.
The eye doctor also can diagnose patients who already have glaucoma by
observing their nerve for damage or detecting visual field loss with a
peripheral visual field test. Patients with glaucoma must be monitored closely
for the remainder of their lifetime in order to adequately treat the IOP and
assess treatment effectiveness. It is extremely cost effective to avoid visual
disability due to glaucoma, enabling the at-risk patient or the patient with
glaucoma to have an active lifestyle with functional central and peripheral
vision.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
Glaucoma is a common eye condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eye rises because of slowed fluid drainage from the eye. If untreated, glaucoma may damage the optic nerve and other parts of the eye, causing the loss of vision or even blindness.
A cataract is an eye disease that causes the eye's lens to become cloudy and opaque with decreased vision. Causes of cataracts include diabetes, hypothyroidism, certain genetic illnesses, hyperparathyroidism, atopic dermatitis, and certain medications. Symptoms and signs include a decrease in vision and a whitish color to the affected eye. Treatment depends upon the patient's specific visual needs and may involve cataract surgery.
Toxoplasmosis (toxo) is a parasitic infection that causes flulike symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches and pains that may last from a few days to several weeks. Toxoplasmosis can be contracted by touching the hands to the mouth after gardening, cleaning a cat's litter box, or anything that came into contact with cat feces. Toxoplasmosis can also be contracted by eating raw or partly cooked meat, especially pork or lamb, or touching the hands to the mouth after contact with raw or undercooked meat.
Many common eye disorders resolve without treatment and some may be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) products. It's important to visit a physician or ophthalmologist is the problem involves the eyeball itself or the condition hasn't improved after 72 hours of use of an eye-care OTC product.
Uveitis is inflammation of the eye. Symptoms include blurred vision, eye pain, eye redness, and floating spots before the eyes. Treatment may involve prescription eyedrops, antibiotics, and wearing dark glasses.
Herpes of the Eye is developed by the herpes simplex 1 virus that usually lives around the nerve fibers in humans. Symptoms of herpes of the eye include pain in and around only one eye, redness rash or sores on the eyelids, redness of the eye, and swelling and cloudiness of the cornea.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that gradually destroys the central vision. In people over 60, AMD is a leading cause of vision loss. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula, leaking blood and fluid and causing rapid vision loss. In dry AMD, light-sensitive cells slowly break down in the macula, resulting in gradual vision loss. Pain is not associated with either form of AMD.
Disease prevention in men includes routine screening tests that are part of basic prevention medicine. Take an active role in your own health care and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. Age of screening and timing of screening depends upon the condition being assessed.
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