Glaucoma Week Series 2011

Optom
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease syndrome that ultimately destroys the optic nerve head @ the insertions of  the lamina cribrosa. This eye disease syndrome is presented with the following:

1) Cupping of the optic nerve head.

2) Reduction in the central visual field.

3)Compromised intra-ocular pressure.

4) Progressive retinal vascular ischaemia

5) Retinal ganglion cell fibre apoptosis secondary to the release of glutamate in the area of infaction.


Glaucoma is divided into the primary and secondary types, depending on the disease process. The primary type is often idiopathic, while the secondary type is almost always as a result of an underlying cause like Diabetes, hypertension, Uveitis, smaller than normal angle between the anterior iris and the corneal endothelium etc. The primary type accounts for almost 75-80 % of glaucoma, while the secondary is comparatively rare.
Glaucoma has no cure and the aim of management is to reduce or even stop the progressive excavation of the optic nerve head in the area of the lamina cribrosa. Though intra-ocular pressure compromise is the target of treatment, but research is going on presently on the use of neuro-protectors to reverse and/or stop the process of apoptosis.
Africans and Asians are more commonly affected by primary & secondary glaucoma respectively. Aging increases the chances of developing the disease. Other factors includes positive family history of glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension, cataract, ocular blunt trauma, the use of steroids for a prolonged period of time, myopia especially the progressive type of myopia etc
Glaucoma stills your sight silently in most cases & nothing can be done about that! We therefore ask you to be wary of such. Go for regular eye tests. The Glaucoma series continues tomorrow.

Dr Victor Ezebuiroh.