LIFESTYLE AND GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is often called the "sneak thief of sight" because it usually has no symptoms and can literally steal your vision before you know it. This disease affects about 3 million Americans and 67 million people worldwide. It is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, particularly among the elderly population. If you are seeking a glaucoma doctor in South Carolina please feel free to read more about the various types of glaucoma and inquire with our practice regarding treatment options and what living with glaucoma will entail.

Types of Glaucoma
Chronic open-angle glaucoma, Congenital Glaucoma, Secondary Glaucoma, Chronic angle-closure glaucoma, Angle-closure glaucoma.

Not every type of Glaucoma is the same or will have the same impact on your life. If you have been diagnosed with Glaucoma please make sure to familiarize yourself with the different types of glaucoma listed below. The doctors at Glaucoma-Cataract Consultants are happy to provide additional information regarding your specific type of glaucoma and what this will mean to your life.

Chronic open-angle glaucoma:
This is the most common type of glaucoma.  The drainage angle, where the fluids in the eye drain, is open, but working less efficiently.  The inability to drain causes pressure within the eye to rise, which results in a gradual loss of side-vision.  This can be likened to an air filter, which gathers dust over time & eventually becomes too laden with dust to work properly.

Angle-closure glaucoma:
This type of glaucoma occurs when the drainage angle is completely blocked, often by the iris.  This prevents any fluid to drain from the eye & causes the pressure within the eye to suddenly rise.  This extreme rise in pressure causes blurred vision, headaches, severe eye pain as well as the appearance of halos around lights.

Chronic angle-closure glaucoma:
This is painless and more gradual closing of the drainage angle, which occurs most frequently in people of African or Asian descent.

Secondary Glaucoma:
This type of glaucoma progresses very much like chronic open-angle glaucoma.  It occurs when scar tissue blocks the drainage angle.   The first symptom is loss of side-vision.

Congenital Glaucoma:
This is a birth defect, which affects the drainage angle.  To prevent blindness, this condition must be treated shortly after birth.  Symptoms include enlarged eyes, a cloudy cornea, light sensitivity and excessive tearing.

Preventative Measures:
Most people are not aware that lifestyle is definitely related to risk of glaucoma. Again the risks for heart disease are implicated in glaucoma risk. For years it has been known that blood pressure is a cause of increasing intraocular pressure (IOP). Obesity has been shown to be an independent risk factor for elevated IOP. Type II Diabetes and glaucoma can have a positive association. Protective recommendations are to maintain an ideal body weight, and blood pressure as well as developing an exercise plan.