Glaucoma is a disease of the eye and is the second leading cause of blindness. The optic nerve in the eye is damaged when the pressure inside the eyes gets too high, which can lead to blindness. Unfortunately, the damage is not usually noticed until the condition is too advanced to prevent a problem since the deterioration happens gradually.
Vision loss is the only way the most common type of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, is detected. This is the reason why it is important to get regular eye examinations that include a check of the eye’s intraocular pressure.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
There are two common types of glaucoma, and they have different presenting symptoms.
- Primary open-angle glaucoma – symptoms of glaucoma for this condition includes both eyes slow losing peripheral vision and the eyes developing tunnel vision as the condition becomes advanced.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma- symptoms of glaucoma can start with severe eye pain that is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, halo effect around lights, eyes becoming red and loss of vision in low light. Most often glaucoma is caused by several conditions, not just the disease of the eye. If the glaucoma develops without any known reason it is called primary glaucoma. But, if there is a known cause such as an injury to the eye, tumors, diabetes, cataracts or eye inflammation the glaucoma is defined as secondary glaucoma.
It is important to see the doctor immediately if any of these symptoms of glaucoma start to occur. Too often no symptoms of glaucoma are noticed until the damage is already permanent.
Glaucoma Screening
Adults age 40 and over should have a comprehensive eye examination that screens for Symptoms of Glaucoma every three to five years as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. People over age 60, those with other high risk factors, and African-Americans should have eye exams screening for this condition every year.
A comprehensive screening for glaucoma will include:
- Tonometry – the pressure inside of the eye is measured with a puff of air from a noncontact tonometer. The pressure is then measured determined by how the eye resists the pressure.
- Visual field testing – when a person looks straight ahead the doctor can measure the central and peripheral area that is seen through a series of flashing lights that the person responds to by pressing a button.
- Optic nerve imaging – laser photographs documents any changes to the optic nerve over time.
None of these tests are painful or invasive. They are a comprehensive way for the eye doctor to screen for symptoms of glaucoma and, hopefully, catch the condition before permanent eye damage has occurred.
Severe headaches or eye pain, blurred vision, rainbow halos and nausea are also signs indicating that a person may be having a glaucoma attack. When two or more of these symptoms happen, a visit to the emergency room or ophthalmologist’s office is indicated.
Causes of Glaucoma
Glaucoma affects approximately six million individuals worldwide leaving them blind in both eyes. There are over three million people with glaucoma in the United States. The reason behind glaucoma causes is not fully understood, but when pressure inside the eye, intraocular pressure, builds up it can damage the optic nerve which results in glaucoma. The aqueous humor that is responsible for the pressure occurs naturally in the eye. It normally will drain from the eye, but when it does not drain properly is when pressure builds.
If a person has open-angle glaucoma the area of drainage to the trabecular meshwork between the iris and cornea are blocked. Aqueous humor fluid drains in microscopic channels which can become blocked so the fluid moves slowly from the drainage channels. The remaining fluid will begin to build putting pressure in the eye.
Why this happens is not known, but what is known is that vision can be lost before the problem has been diagnosed since the pressure builds slowing damaging the optic nerve. It is painless so only comprehensive eye examinations can detect the problem.
Angle-closure glaucoma happens when the iris of the eye begins to bulge and blocks the drainage between the iris and cornea. The fluid does not reach the trabecular meshwork and the pressure in the eye will increase rapidly and suddenly.
This drainage area, or trabecular meshwork between the iris and cornea of the eye, called a drainage angle, can be narrow for many years without a person being aware of the problem. Dilating the eye can spot the condition and can often be treated with antihistamines or dilating eye drops.
Low pressure, or low tension glaucoma occurs when there is a low pressure of blood supply to the optic nerve. Blood flows from the heart, to the head, to the eye and then to a small artery behind the eye that sends the blood to the optic nerve. Without the flow of blood the nerve can be damaged resulting in a reduction in sight, increasing the Symptoms of Glaucoma.
Who is at Risk of Glaucoma?
Glaucoma usually affects adults over age 40, but anyone can have the condition. Those that are at an increased risk of glaucoma include:
- African Americans, Irish, Russian, Japanese, Hispanic, Inuit and Scandinavian.
- Over age 40
- Family history of glaucoma
- Poor vision
- Diabetes
- Medications such as systemic corticosteroid medications like prednisone
Conventional Treatment for Glaucoma
The ophthalmologist will perform a tonometry to check the pressure of the eye and a visual field test to check for peripheral vision. The glaucoma test is painless and does not take a lot of time, but is very important.
Glaucoma treatment can include prescription eye drops that reduce the buildup of fluid in the eye. Side effects of these drops can include allergies, eye redness, stinging, blurred vision, or irritation of the eye. The drops can affect the heart and lungs.
Laser surgery is used to pull open the meshwork drainage area and make a tiny hole in the iris so the fluid can flow more freely. Microsurgery for glaucoma includes an operation called a trabeculectomy where a new channel is created that will drain the fluid to reduce pressure.
This form of surgery can fail and have to be redone. Other complications of surgery include temporary or permanent loss of vision, bleeding or infection.
Natural Treatment for Glaucoma
There are several lifestyle changes that will result in more natural, less invasive treatments for glaucoma, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Exercise
Studies show that patients who have open-angle glaucoma and exercise at least three times a week may reduce the intraocular pressure by approximately 20 percent. However, if they stop exercising the pressure can build back up. Yoga or exercises that involve head-down positions should be avoided, as they can be harmful for people with glaucoma. Exercise has no effect on closed-angle glaucoma.
Diet
Large amounts of caffeine drunk in a short amount of time can elevate pressure, and so can drinking large amounts of any liquid. Therefore, patients with glaucoma should drink small amounts of fluids throughout the day. While food supplements like vitamins and minerals may help other eye disorders, they seem to have little effect on glaucoma.
Ginkgo Biloba
Some studies has shown that this herb may have properties that benefit patients with glaucoma by decreasing blood flow to the eye, but more research is needed to assess if it will decrease Symptoms of Glaucoma.
Other natural remedies include using cayenne to increase the blood flow to the eyes. Cayenne is also an anti-inflammatory agent. Eating spinach can reverse some eye conditions as spinach contains carotenoid that is needed for retina and eye tissue health. Eyebright herb drops may also help.
Though it may not be recommended, studies have shown that marijuana can help to reduce intraocular pressure.
Glaucoma Cure
Visual Field Tests are performed on each patient to better understand the patient’s vision limitations. The printed pattern identifies the areas affected by Glaucoma.
Dark colors represent seriously limited vision, yellow being the highest, represent clear vision.
The above visual field test represents the positive progression after only two month of Micro Acupuncture therapy on a Glaucoma patient.
At Three Treasures Clinic we treat the whole being with dietary supplementation and we treat particularly the eyes with Micro Acupuncture.