Glaucoma 101: Eyes Under Pressure
Human eyesight is an incredibly complex system, and a problem anywhere along the way can lead to seriously compromised vision.
One such problem is glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that affect millions of people in the US, making it the second most common cause of vision loss and blindness in the country. In most cases, glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve from increased pressure in the eye.
Intraocular Pressure: A Delicate Balance
The human eye is filled with fluid — aqueous humor in the front chambers, vitreous humor in the larger rear chamber behind the lens. In a healthy eye, the pressure of this fluid remains within a safe range because the amount of aqueous humor being produced is roughly equal to the amount flowing out through the pupil. In an eye with glaucoma, this drainage system does not work the way it should.
2 Common Types Of Glaucoma
At least three million Americans have open-angle glaucoma, which comes on very gradually (over the course of years) and accounts for 90 percent of glaucoma cases. The drainage canals of the eye become clogged, stopping the fluid from draining effectively and causing the pressure to build. Because this process is so slow and vision isn’t noticeably affected until late in the disease, regular comprehensive eye exams are essential for catching it early on and halting its progress.
The second most common type of glaucoma is angle-closure glaucoma. Unlike the gradual progression of open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma happens very suddenly, when the iris (the colorful circular muscle that regulates the amount of light that comes in through the pupil) actually blocks the drainage canals. This tends to come with a variety of symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, eye pain, very blurred vision, and rainbows around lights. Get to the eye doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.
Common Risk Factors
While everyone has some risk of developing glaucoma, certain factors can make it more likely. Glaucoma is far more common in people over 60, particularly African Americans and Hispanics. People of Asian descent are at greater risk of angle-closure glaucoma.
A major risk factor for glaucoma is heredity. Studies estimate that over half of glaucoma cases are familial. Someone with a sibling who has glaucoma is ten times more likely to develop it than someone who doesn’t. Other risk factors include eye injury and steroid use.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible and there is currently no cure for the disease, but medication and/or surgery can halt its progress as long as it is diagnosed in time. The key to early diagnosis is regular eye exams, especially for those with a high risk of developing the condition. Make sure you’re familiar with your family’s eye health history, and don’t forget to keep us in the loop!
Glaucoma 101: Macho Chini ya Shinikizo Macho ya binadamu ni mfumo tata sana, na tatizo lolote katika njia inaweza kusababisha maono mabaya sana. Glaucoma ni ugonjwa wa macho unaowasumbua mamilioni ya watu nchini Marekani, na ni kisababishi cha pili cha upofu. Katika visa vingi, glaukoma husababishwa na uharibifu wa neva ya macho kutokana na kuongezeka kwa shinikizo jicho. Intraocular Pressure: A Delicate Balance Jicho la binadamu limejaa umajimaji - umajimaji wa maji katika vyumba vya mbele, umajimaji wa kioo katika chumba kikubwa cha nyuma nyuma ya lensi. Katika jicho lenye afya, shinikizo la kioevu hiki linabaki ndani ya kiwango salama kwa sababu kiasi cha maji yanayotokezwa ni sawa na kiasi kinachotiririka kupitia mwanafunzi. Katika jicho lenye glaukoma, mfumo huu wa kuondoa maji haufanyi kazi kama inavyopaswa. Kwa mfano, angalau watu milioni tatu nchini Marekani wana ugonjwa wa glaucoma unaoitwa open-angle glaucoma, ambao huanza hatua kwa hatua (kwa miaka mingi) na unawakilisha asilimia 90 ya visa vya glaucoma. Mifereji ya maji ya jicho hufungiwa, na hivyo kuzuia umajimaji usitoke kwa njia inayofaa, na hivyo kusababisha shinikizo liongezeke. Kwa sababu mchakato huu ni polepole sana na maono hayaathiriwi kwa kiasi kikubwa hadi mwishoni mwa ugonjwa huo, uchunguzi wa macho wa mara kwa mara ni muhimu kwa kuugundua mapema na kuzuia maendeleo yake. Aina ya pili ya glaucoma inayopatikana kwa wingi ni glaucoma yenye pembe iliyofungwa. Kwa sababu ya magonjwa ya glaucoma ya pembe ya wazi, glaucoma ya pembe ya kufungwa hutokea ghafla wakati iris (misuli ya mviringo yenye rangi ambayo inasimamia kiasi cha mwanga unaokuja kupitia mwanafunzi) inazuia mifereji ya mifereji. Hii huja na dalili mbalimbali, kama vile maumivu ya kichwa, kichefuchefu, maumivu ya macho, maono yasiyoeleweka sana, na upinde wa mvua karibu na taa. Pata daktari wa macho mara moja ikiwa utapata dalili hizi. Ingawa kila mtu ana hatari ya kupatwa na glaucoma, kuna mambo fulani yanayoweza kuifanya iwe rahisi zaidi. Glaucoma ni ugonjwa wa kawaida kwa watu wenye umri wa miaka 60 na zaidi, hasa kwa watu wa asili ya Afrika na Hispania. Watu wa asili ya Asia wana hatari kubwa zaidi ya kupatwa na glaukoma yenye pembe iliyofungwa. Sababu kuu ya hatari ya kupatwa na glaukoma ni urithi. Uchunguzi unakadiria kwamba zaidi ya nusu ya visa vya glaucoma ni vya familia. Mtu aliye na ndugu au dada aliye na glaucoma ana uwezekano wa kuugua mara kumi zaidi kuliko mtu asiye na ugonjwa huo. Mambo mengine ya hatari yanatia ndani majeraha ya macho na matumizi ya steroidi. Kwa nini Utambuzi wa Mapema Ni Muhimu: Kupoteza Maono kwa sababu ya glaucoma ni jambo lisiloweza kubadilika na kwa sasa hakuna tiba ya ugonjwa huo, lakini dawa na au upasuaji unaweza kuzuia maendeleo yake ikiwa itagunduliwa kwa wakati. Ufunguo wa kugundua ugonjwa huo mapema ni kufanya uchunguzi wa macho kwa ukawaida, hasa kwa wale walio na hatari kubwa ya kupatwa na ugonjwa huo. Hakikisha unajua historia ya afya ya macho ya familia yako, na usisahau kutufundisha!