Information about Glaucoma
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Vision Loss and Blindness
Treatment for glaucoma ranges from surgery and medication to controversial treatments like marijuana.
More information on the types of glaucoma and its treatment is below.
Contents at a Glance
Types of glaucoma
Primary open angle glaucoma
- Information about high intraocular pressure and the cause of primary open angle glaucoma
- Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness because of the effect of increased intraocular pressure on the optic nerve.
- Less common forms of POAGs and other causes of optic nerve damage
- Glaucoma is not always caused by high intraocular pressure and is often without symptoms until vision loss occurs.
- Normal tension glaucoma - progressive optic nerve damage in the presence of normal intraocular pressure
- Pigmentary glaucoma - inherited POAG, commonly also near-sighted; pigment clogs the drainage, increasing the eye pressure
Acute angle closure glaucoma
- Angle-closure glaucoma - most common in people with far-sightedness and/or of Asian descent, a limited angle between the iris and cornea causes pressure buildup behind the iris as a person ages and their lens grows.
- Acute glaucoma, or acute angle closure - the pressure increases suddenly; the eye becomes red, the cornea swells and clouds, it causes excruciating pain and blurry vision - emergency condition
- Childhood glaucoma - primary forms are due to maldevelopment of the drainage system in the eye (trabecular mesh), secondary forms are due to disease or other non-genetic causes; usually results in blindness in the first year of life
- Trauma-related glaucoma - trauma that disrupts the eye's drainage system can result in the disorder
- Exfoliation syndrome - this can result in either open angle or closed angle glaucoma, buildup on the lens of the eye flakes off and clogs the trabecular mesh
Helpful Resources
- Glaucoma Foundation
- Funding groundbreaking research and educating the public about glaucoma
- National Glaucoma Research
- A program of the American Health Assistance Foundation, seeks a cure for glaucoma, and provides the public with information about risk factors, preventative lifestyles, available treatments and coping strategies.
- American Optometric Association
- Information about glaucoma
- World Glaucoma Association
- The global glaucoma network
Controversial treatment
A controversial medical treatment for many diseases, cannabis has also been implicated as a treatment for primary open angle glaucoma by reducing the intraocular pressure. The main resistance for continued federal illegality are cardiovascular side effects. Read here for more information.
What do you think?
Do you think medical marijuana should be used for glaucoma treatment?
Absolutely!
colleen_w says:
There are people who are using medicinal marijuana to alleviate symptoms associated with their glaucoma and finding that it does make their quality of life much better on a daily basis. Great lens! Thumbs up!
No way!
JGracey says:
I have glaucoma and don't think this is a necessary treatment, unless all other treatment fails to control it. I've had an acute type of glaucoma for 20 years that's controlled with laser surgeries and eye drops.
You really need another choice besides "absolutely" or "no way" - it's impossible to give an answer that works. How about "under certain conditions, maybe"
Simulation of having glaucoma
How about you?
Get Help
The Glaucoma Research Foundation offers answers and help for patients with glaucoma
Recent Research
- Glaucoma Linked to Increased Risk of Falls
- Older adults with glaucoma are at increased risk of falls resulting in injury, reports a study in the November issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
More information
Glaucoma in the News
- Medical Marijuana now law in Conn.
- Patients who have illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy and Chrohn's disease could qualify to receive marijuana. "For years, we've heard from so many patients with chronic diseases who undergo treatments like chemotherapy or radiation and are ...
- Sunny days ahead for baby with glaucoma
- Bridget ?Bri? Erickson was diagnosed with infantile glaucoma at 4 months old. This eye condition causes her such pain and sensitivity to light that she spends her days indoors, windows covered. She can go outside only in sunglasses with a blanket ...
- Dope driver's glaucoma claims rejected
- By Matthew Backhouse A cannabis-eating truck driver sacked after crashing a company vehicle into a tree says a specialist told him to take the drug to prevent glaucoma. Waimate man Gary Goodman was dismissed from Rooney Earthmoving after admitting to ...
- Sacking justified, ERA says
- Mr Goodman said a specialist had suggested to him that consumption of cannabis could help prevent glaucoma, a hereditary eye condition. The accident was the third in a month for Mr Goodman, who had two minor accidents in the previous month.
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Comments
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colleen_w
Dec 4, 2011 @ 11:18 am | delete
- Informative lens, great job!
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dr.priya neupaney
Jul 30, 2010 @ 10:10 am | delete
- This is a wonderful information about Glaucoma. Almost all of my doubts about this disease are cleared. Thanks for the information.......
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