The leading cause of blindness in people over 60 years old is glaucoma, an eye disease that affects the optic nerve by increasing pressure in the eye. The most prevalent type is open-angle glaucoma when fluid cannot drain from the eye through the drainage angle because it is clogged, causing vision loss (Boyd). This is a slow-moving and painless disease that can take over twenty years to result in blindness, making it difficult to identify (Boyd; Susanna). There is also angle-closure glaucoma when the iris blocks the drainage angle because they are too close together. Generally, this is also a slow-moving disease, however, an acute attack is also possible. This is when the drainage angle is completely blocked and one of these attacks may cause blindness if not treated quickly. The identifying symptoms are blurry vision, eye pain, headache, nausea or throwing up, and seeing rainbow rings or halos around lights (Boyd).
Unfortunately, because open-angle glaucoma is such a slow-moving disease, it is difficult to identify before vision loss, but regular eye exams can catch it early. If you experience the symptoms of an acute attack, you should immediately seek medical care. If you are over the age of 40, have had an eye injury, or have a family history of glaucoma, you are at higher risk of developing the disease and should try to seek regular eye examinations (Boyd). Because this is a genetic disease, some groups are at higher risk (Glaucoma; Singh). There is no cure for glaucoma, but treatment, especially early treatment, can prevent it from progressing (Glaucoma). Additionally, medication, laser treatment, and surgery can all help prevent further damage (Boyd).
Written By: Hazel Cameron
Works Cited
Boyd, Kierstan. "What Is Glaucoma? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment." Edited by Anju Goyal. American Academy of Ophtamology, American Academy of Opthamology, 29 Oct. 2024, www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-glaucoma. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.
"Glaucoma." National Eye Institute, 15 Nov. 2023, www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma#:~:text=What%20is%20glaucoma%3F,a%20comprehensive%20dilated%20eye%20exam. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.
Singh, Kuldev. "Hispanic Americans and Latinos at Increased Glaucoma Risk." Glaucoma Research Foundation, 13 Sept. 2021, www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma#:~:text=What%20is%20glaucoma%3F,a%20comprehensive%20dilated%20eye%20exam. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.
Susanna, Remo, et al. "Why Do People (Still) Go Blind from Glaucoma?" Translational Vision Science & Technology, vol. 4, no. 2, Mar. 2015, p. 1. National Library of Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.4.2.1. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.
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