August Project 2018 - Glaucoma

This was my project on Glaucoma for August 2018.

Check out the video of me presenting below!

Overview

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve and can cause blindness. The
damage to the optic nerve is usually due to buildup of pressure in the eyes. The buildup of pressure is
due to the fluid that flows through your eyes building up. When this fluid is overproduced or not
draining correctly, the fluid cannot flow out at a normal rate.Thus, resulting in a pressure buildup.

Symptoms

Symptoms of glaucoma can vary with every patient, but mainly include the following:

• Headaches, eye pain, and eye redness
• Blurred vision and patchy blind spots

Types
Open-Angle: The drainage angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork is partially blocked.
This results in pressure increasing gradually.
Closed-Angle: The iris bulges forward to block the drainage angle.
The fluid cannot circulate and pressure increases

Diagnosis

Several ways to diagnose glaucoma include:

• Tonometry (measuring intraocular pressure)
• Visual field testing
• Testing the optic nerve for damage

Treatment

Glaucoma causes damage that cannot be reversed. However, there are quite a few ways to help
treat this disease.
These treatments include:

• Eye drops
• Oral medication
• Surgery

Prevention

Prevention of glaucoma includes the following

• Regular eye checkups, especially after the age of 40
• Taking prescribed eye drops by your Doctor regularly
• Know whether your family has a history of glaucoma

*Information was obtained from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota

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