- GlaucomaEvery year, millions of people world-wide go blind from glaucoma. Just what is this disease, and what can be done about it? Glaucoma is a group of conditions in which the optic nerve cells in the back of the eye have died at least partly due to pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) exerted by the fluid in the eye (aqueous humor) which is too high for the nerve cells in that particular eye to tolerate. The optic nerve cells' job is to transform the light entering the eye into electrical impulses that can be understood by the brain. If enough of these cells die, then, some vision may be lost.
- CataractsAll children should have their eyes examined at or before their fourth birthday. If there is a family history of misaligned eyes, childhood cataracts or a serious eye disease, children should have their eyes examined before age three. Vision problems often respond to treatment better during the growth and development of a child's visual system, so early detection could be the key to good vision.
- Eye ExamYou should arrange for an eye examination with your local Optometrist or Ophthalmologist. Eye examinations in Australia are supported by the Medicare system for all Australian residents. Referrals are not required for an eye examination with an Optometrist. Your Optometrist will advise you if you have developed macula degeneration, and if so, will be able to refer you to an eye specialist for treatment.
- Pregnancy
- Multiple SclerosisThe critical question, then, is how does the eye doctor detect tissue damage that is pressure-related? The short, but important, answer to that question is: "With difficulty." There is no pregnancy test for glaucoma. There is no dipstick indicator. There is no easy answer. One of the things making the doctor's job difficult is the fact that, though there are many signs and symptoms of the various types of glaucoma, almost all of them also could indicate other conditions,and not glaucoma. For example, decreased visual field, (the area visible to a person -- straight ahead, up, down, and to the sides) may be due to a retinal detachment or multiple sclerosis, or an optic nerve that was abnormally formed at birth. The optic nerve can have a bowl shape (which is called "cupping") because the person was born with a bowl-shaped nerve, has syphilis, is near-sighted, or has glaucoma damage. Nevertheless, the size of the optic cup is definitely related to the presence or absence of glaucoma: the larger the cup of the optic nerve, the greater is the likelihood that the person has glaucoma.