![]() When glaucoma is suspected, it is important to establish several baseline measurements. While one eye may be able to tolerate an IOP of 23 mmHg without a problem, another eye may suffer damage with an otherwise “normal” pressure of 17 mmHg. However, glaucoma is a complex disease, the reality is that the IOP at which nerve damage first occurs is unique to every person and is largely determined by genetics, health status of the individual, age and other risk factors. In other words, if an eye’s pressure is within this range, it is statistically less likely to develop glaucoma. A healthy IOP is generally considered to be between 10-21 mmHg. Any eye can become damaged when the IOP is too high. Fact: While intraocular pressure (IOP) is an important measurement, it does not tell us the full story.Myth: I cannot develop glaucoma if my eye pressures have always been normal.This is why early loss of vision is nearly impossible to detect without proper testing. This is due to the fact that earlier stages of the disease generally affect the peripheral vision more significantly than the central vision. Fact: Although glaucoma can ultimately lead to complete blindness, many people with mild or moderate glaucoma can still see 20/20.Myth: Being able to see 20/20 is a good indicator that I don’t have glaucoma.Enlargement of the eye(s) and corneal clouding can also occur in more advanced cases. Early signs of infantile glaucoma may include: excessive blinking, tearing and sensitivity to light. This is one reason it is recommended that all infants have their first eye exam before the age of 1. ![]() Fact: While the incidence of it is higher after the age of 40, glaucoma can occur at any age.Myth: Glaucoma is a disease that only affects the elderly.Since the optic nerve is the only bridge of communication the eye has towards the brain, damage to this pathway can lead to a gradual loss of vision. Glaucoma is a disease that progressively destroys the RNFL and ganglion cells consequently, the optic nerve is damaged. ![]() ![]() In short, the RNFL allows communicating cells in the retina, called ganglion cells, to send visual information to the brain. As these fibers enter the back of the eye, they form what is called the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). The nerve is made up of about one million microscopic nerve fibers. The optic nerve plays a vital role in making vision possible. (If you want to learn more about glaucoma, including different forms of it and risk factors, see Dr. With January being the month of glaucoma awareness, I’m going to take this time to discuss some facts about the sight-threatening disease, as well as some of the common tests we can use to help us better diagnose and monitor it. With the new year here our goal is not to simply get our patients seeing 20/20, but to provide them with the knowledge and means to maintain that vision beyond 2020. ![]()
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