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Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States. This is a chronic disease that affects about four million Americans over the age of 40, and half of whom remain unaware that they have the disease. Unlike most other diseases, glaucoma has no obvious symptoms and can permanently damage vision without warning. Once vision is lost to glaucoma, it can never be restored.

Certain groups of people have been shown to be at an increased risk for developing glaucoma. These groups include: people over the age of 40, people who have a family history of glaucoma, African and Hispanic Americans, people who have diabetes, hypertension, myopia, poor ocular circulation, previous eye injury, people who have used steroid/cortisone medications on a long-term basis and especially people with elevated intraocular pressure.

Glaucoma is characterized by a buildup of fluid within the eye, causing intraocular pressure to increase. This pressure increase affects the optic nerve, resulting in cellular death and vision loss. In a healthy eye, fluid containing nutrients to bathe the eye and help the eyeball maintain its shape is continuously drained and replenished. However, in a person with glaucoma, this fluid either does not drain properly or is created in excess, resulting in eye pressure that eventually damages the optic nerve. When this occurs, partial or total vision loss may result. Because vision loss is irreversible and painless, early detection and treatment is critical. The only acceptable treatment for glaucoma is to lower the intraocular pressure. This can be done with medication, typically eye drops, laser treatment, or surgery.

Dr Rebecca Ng is one of 135 out of 6800 optometrists in the state of California that is licensed to treat glaucoma. Please call for an appointment for your glaucoma evaluation.