Glaucoma Archives - Healthhype

Glaucoma (High Eye Pressure) Types, Causes, Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:20:19 +0000

The eye has two main areas which are filled with different substances. The anterior segment (front) which constitutes about 20% of the area is filled with a clear watery fluid know as the aqueous humor. It lies between the cornea and the front surface of the lens. The posterior segment (back) which accounts for the remaining 80% of the internal area of the eye is filled with a clear gelatinous substance known as the vitreous humor. It lies between the back surface of the lens and the retina. Normal Eye Pressure The pressure within the eye is known as the intraocular pressure (IOP). It varies between 12 mmHg and 20 mmHg with an average pressure of 15 mmHg. The fluid that constitutes the aqueous humor is constantly being produced and drained in the eye. The ciliary body secretes this fluid into the posterior chamber of the anterior segment of the eye, between the front of the lens and back of the iris as explained under the human eye. The fluid then flows through the pupil to the anterior chamber where it is drained by the trabecular meshwork and then the Schlemm’s canal. This is a small drainage point that lies [...]

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6 Common Causes Of Bad Eyesight (Poor Vision)

Dr. Chris — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 23:50:33 +0000

Visual acuity is our ability to see clearly. As humans our eyesight may not be as impressive as some other mammals but nevertheless it serves us sufficiently to conduct our daily activities. But eyesight problems have become commonplace in the modern world for a number of different reasons. It is lifestyle-related, due to genetics and even associated with some of the chronic diseases that have become common these days. The common causes of bad eyesight can vary. It may be a problem with the way light is bent, the amount of light that can enter the eye or a deterioration of the light-sensitive eye tissue. How Eyesight Works In order to understand how bad eyesight arises, it is first important to understand normal vision. Light rays enter the eye through the transparent cornea. The cornea bends (refracts) the light through the pupil. The refractive index of the cornea stays constant. The partially bent light now passes through the fluid in the front chamber of the eye (aqueous humor). It then passes through the lens within the eyeball. The lens can alter its shape at will to change its refractive index. This ability is known as accommodation. The light will be [...]

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Glaucoma Laser, Filtering Surgery and Aqueous Shunt Devices

Dr. Alison — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:37:00 +0000

Glaucoma is condition characterized by progressive optic nerve damage and is very often due an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). It cannot be cured but early detection and treatment can help to prevent vision loss and blindness, primarily by reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP). Medication in the form of eye drops or oral drugs are the first line of treatment. If these cannot be used or fail to give the desired results, the various surgical methods may be considered. Laser Surgery Laser treatment can be considered for both types of glaucoma – open angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. If glaucoma affects both eyes, then laser surgery is usually done one eye at a time, with an interval of a few weeks between the sessions. The type of laser surgery will depend upon the form and severity of the glaucoma. Laser Trabeculoplasty Laser trabeculoplasty helps to open the fluid outflow channels so that fluid can drain easily out of the eye and decrease the IOP. A high-intensity beam of light is used to treat the drainage angle of the eye. Laser trabeculoplasty is usually done as an outpatient procedure for patients suffering from open angle glaucoma. This procedure is not suitable [...]

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Glaucoma Tests (Diagnosis) and Different Treatments

Dr. Chris — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:27:09 +0000

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerves due to gradually increasing pressure within the eye, the intraocular pressure (IOP). Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness, yet many people are unaware that they have this condition since the vision impairment may be painless as well as insidious. For this reason, a regular eye examination is extremely important, particularly if there is a family history of glaucoma, since early diagnosis and treatment can often help to preserve vision. There are different types of glaucoma, such as : Open-angle or chronic glaucoma Angle-closure or acute glaucoma Congenital glaucoma, which is present at birth, and usually runs in families. Secondary glaucoma, which may be caused by drugs such as corticosteroids or systemic diseases. Angle-closure glaucoma may be associated with a red, painful eye, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting, which will demand immediate attention. Glaucoma Diagnosis A comprehensive eye examination should be done for detection of glaucoma, which may include the following : Indirect fundoscopy – examination of the eye after dilating the pupil. Tonometry – to measure IOP. Tonometry may not always be diagnostic of glaucoma since [...]

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Peripheral Vision Loss (Tunnel Vision) Causes, Treatments

Dr. Chris — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 00:03:27 +0000

Human vision is not limited to what we can see in front of us. Our eyes have the ability to see, albeit not as clearly, as much as 100 to 110 degrees on either side when we look straight ahead. We often take this side vision for granted and do not even detect when it is gradually lost until the loss is severe. However, it is important to understand why this vision loss occurs as it may be a sign of very serious conditions which may eventually even lead to complete blindness. What is peripheral vision? Peripheral vision is the wide angle vision beyond the central vision. It is important to understand what central vision means in order to understand peripheral vision and related problems. Central vision is the what you see when you look straight ahead. It is usually very clear and sharp. Central vision comprises approximately 3 degrees of the most acute vision and about 13 degrees in total. Beyond these limits lie the peripheral vision. Visual Field Limits and Impairment The limits in each direction varies. When looking straight ahead, the peripheral vision is limited to about 60 degrees inward (toward the nose) and about 100 to [...]

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Distorted Vision – Types and Causes

Dr. Chris — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:56:18 +0000

There are a number of different ways in which vision can be distorted and without a medical assessment it is difficult to isolate the exact mechanism and defect. The sense of vision is complex with 20/20 vision on one end and blindness at the other. However, there are many conditions that can cause a variety of forms of visual distortion in-between. What is Distorted Vision? Distorted vision is a general term to refer to disturbances in visual acuity. It can range from blurring to double vision, blind spots, tunnel vision or hazy and cloudy vision. Blindness is not just a distortion as most people would refer to it. Instead blindness would be considered as loss of vision and is therefore not discussed in detail in this article. However, some forms of partial blindness may be covered. How does normal vision work? It is important to understand how the sense of vision works in order to understand how distortions may arise and present. Vision is the means by which we perceive light from our environment. The human eye has the ability to perceive light within a certain wavelength range, or what we call the visual spectrum. Our abilities are also limited [...]

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Signs of Glaucoma in Adults, Children and Babies

Dr. Chris — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 23:46:29 +0000

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of irreversible blindness after macular degeneration and affects about 3 million Americans. Less than half of those affected know that they have glaucoma and even of those treated, about 10% will still lose their vision as a result of this disease. About 12% of all cases of blindness in the Unites States are due to glaucoma. How To Spot Glaucoma One of the obstacles with early diagnosis of glaucoma is that the most common type is not easy to spot without tests. In fact in the early stages a person may have no signs or symptoms. Even as the condition progresses, the onset of the symptoms are so gradual that a person may not notice it. Without diagnostic investigation, most people will not know that they have glaucoma until the advanced stage. Therefore routine screening is important, especially for high risk individuals. However, the less common types of glaucoma present with several intense signs and symptoms. It can sometimes be mistaken for other eye conditions to a person without adequate knowledge about the signs and symptoms of glaucoma. Given how common glaucoma has become especially in older people and the severity of complications, [...]

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Blurred Vision – Causes in One Eye or Both Eyes

Dr. Chris — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 23:55:48 +0000

We are all accustomed to seeing clearly, even if we use spectacles (glasses) or contact lenses. This clarity of vision is known as visual acuity. It does not stay constant throughout life. Visual acuity can change with age and may need to be corrected. Most of us notice it as the inability to see objects clearly and we often refer to this as blurred vision. This change is usually gradual and depending on the cause, it may get progressively worse. Why does vision blur? Vision, or eyesight, is made possible with the eyes which has light sensitive tissue within it. This tissue is known as the retina and lines the inside of the eyeballs. One spot on the retina known as the macula is responsible for clarity of vision. In other words, what we see is due to incoming light being focused on the macula. The light has to be bent (refracted) in order to be focused on the macula and this being is made possible by the cornea and lens of the eyeball. Blurring of vision usually occurs when the light is not bent properly to focus on the macula. This should be differentiated from cloudy vision and dim [...]

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