January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, and we’d like to take a moment to discuss it in detail. This chronic condition results from ongoing damage to one’s optical nerve for a variety of reasons. Understanding the root causes of glaucoma is critical for managing one’s potential risk for developing it as they age. Let’s take a look at some causes, symptoms, and comorbidities, along with different diagnostic techniques. 

What Causes Glaucoma? 

Before exploring the causes of glaucoma, it’s useful to outline the affected biological processes. Eyes continually produce a clear fluid known as aqueous humor. This fluid fills the front of the eye, then drains through passages in the cornea and iris. When these passages become blocked, one’s internal eye pressure rises. 

It’s this increased pressure which typically causes glaucoma, as such unnatural strain can slowly damage the optic nerve. As the damage worsens over time, vision is affected, and it may eventually be lost if left untreated. Intraocular pressure (within the eye) is therefore a major risk factor to consider when assessing this disease. 

While pressure buildup is often caused by blockages, there are other potential sources of damage to optic nerves. These include high blood pressure, reduced blood flow, dilating eye drops, and some medications such as corticosteroids. Unfortunately, glaucoma may also develop with no clear cause. 

Symptoms of Glaucoma 

Glaucoma Awareness Month serves to educate individuals about the symptoms of this disease. One cannot accurately assess their own intraocular pressure, so it’s critical to be aware of other common indicators. Glaucoma initially affects peripheral vision, though it can progress inward if left undiagnosed. Those with optic nerve damage often experience decreased or blurred vision, tunnel vision, or blind spots. They may also notice eye floaters or halos around light sources. Other warning signs include nausea, headaches, eye redness, severe eye pain, and sensitivity to light. In some cases, however, the onset is so gradual that such symptoms aren’t easily noticeable. 

Various comorbidities are associated with glaucoma. These are chronic health conditions which occur in the same patient at approximately the same time. Research shows that the most common comorbid conditions for those diagnosed with glaucoma are hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Heart disease, renal (kidney) diseases, and hypothyroidism are also correlated with this condition to some degree. 

How Is Glaucoma Detected?

Another critical goal of Glaucoma Awareness Month is to explain how this condition can be detected. After all, the objective is to identify it as early as possible to allow for effective treatment. 

The most reliable way to detect this disease is to schedule routine eye examinations with your optometrist. In fact, we recommend annual exams for reasons such as this. During this assessment, a number of things are done to evaluate eye health. This includes measuring eye pressure through noninvasive means. Your physician may also test your visual field, inspect eye drainage, and look closely at your optic nerve. When conducted regularly, these methods assess eye health and can detect early signs of severe conditions like glaucoma. 

Believe it or not, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world today. This disease affects millions of Americans and it’s estimated that nearly 50% of patients are unaware of their condition. Glaucoma Awareness Month highlights the need for more education regarding its causes, symptoms, and potential risk factors. While some of the sources of this condition are understood, others aren’t so well-known. For instance, genetic predispositions play a certain role, especially in congenital diagnoses. Further research is needed to thoroughly uncover the connection between intraocular pressure and optical nerve damage. We encourage you to contact us for more information about glaucoma or to schedule an eye exam.