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January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, which aims to spread awareness about the disease. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, more than 3 million people in the United States currently have Glaucoma. However, experts estimate that half of those with Glaucoma don’t know they have it.
The National Eye Institute projects the number of those with Glaucoma will reach 4.2 million by 2030, which is a 58% increase. Glaucoma may not have any symptoms initially, but if left untreated, it can take away vision over time. Combined with the aging population, there is an epidemic of blindness if awareness is not raised about the importance of regular eye exams to preserve vision. The numbers prove the harsh reality of leaving Glaucoma untreated.
The World Health Organization estimates that 4.5 million people worldwide are blind due to Glaucoma. Specifically, Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among individuals 60 and older. Let’s discuss this vision disease in further detail and the nurse’s role in Glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that causes the fluid levels in the eye to rise, which in turn gradually steals sight, often without warning. Although the most common forms primarily affect the middle-aged and the elderly, Glaucoma can affect people of all ages.
Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain. Like many organs, the eye requires a balance of fluid to maintain its function.
However, too much fluid in the eye causes a buildup of pressure around the optic nerve. If the pressure isn’t relieved, the optic nerve is irreparably damaged. While there is currently no cure for Glaucoma, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss.
The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of Glaucoma, among other factors.
During Glaucoma Awareness month, nurses can learn about the two main types of Glaucoma. These are marked by an increase in intraocular pressure or pressure inside the eye. When optic nerve damage has occurred, despite normal intraocular pressure, this is called normal tension Glaucoma. Secondary Glaucoma refers to any case in which another disease causes or contributes to increased eye pressure, resulting in optic nerve damage and vision loss.
In the most common form, there are virtually no symptoms. Vision loss begins with peripheral or side vision, so if an individual has Glaucoma, they may not notice anything until significant vision is lost.
Primary open-angle Glaucoma often goes unnoticed until significant vision loss has occurred. Most commonly, peripheral vision is affected first. Over time, central vision can also be impacted.
Primary open-angle Glaucoma is the most common type of Glaucoma. It happens gradually, where the eye does not drain fluid as well as it should, and as a result, eye pressure builds and starts to damage the optic nerve. This type of Glaucoma is painless and causes no vision changes at first. Some people can have optic nerves that are sensitive to normal eye pressure. This means the risk of getting Glaucoma is higher than normal. Regular eye exams are important to find early signs of damage to the optic nerve.
Acute angle closure Glaucoma occurs rapidly and presents a variety of symptoms:
As a nurse, if you notice a patient is experiencing symptoms consistent with acute angle closure Glaucoma, it’s vital to schedule an eye exam immediately. Vision loss associated with Glaucoma cannot be reversed, but treatment can slow the disease’s progression.
Many people with angle-closure Glaucoma develop it slowly. This is called chronic angle-closure Glaucoma. There are no symptoms at first, so they don’t know they have it until the damage is severe or they have an attack. Angle-closure Glaucoma can cause blindness if not treated right away.
Regular eye exams are especially important for those at higher risk for Glaucoma and may help to prevent unnecessary vision loss. The best way to protect sight from Glaucoma is to get comprehensive eye examinations. Then, if Glaucoma is diagnosed, treatment can begin immediately. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years of age.
Those at higher risk include people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. Other high-risk groups include people over 60, family members of those already diagnosed, diabetics, and people who are severely nearsighted. Nurses can take this time during Glaucoma Awareness month to better understand how these risk factors may affect their patients.
Individuals with a family history of Glaucoma are also at higher risk. If a patient has diabetes, hypertension, or takes corticosteroids for health conditions, they may also be at higher risk. It is important the patient visits their eye doctor twice per year, especially for those who have a higher-than-normal risk of getting Glaucoma.
This includes people who:
While anyone can develop Glaucoma, those who are overweight, diabetics, people with high blood pressure, seniors, and African Americans are at significantly higher risk of suffering from Glaucoma-related vision loss.
Watching patients’ weight, monitoring and controlling blood pressure, and ensuring patients have annual and thorough eye exams are all ways in which nurses can help prevent Glaucoma.
Most Glaucoma can be managed with medication, some of which are as simple as taking eye drops. When medications aren’t working, or the Glaucoma is severe, doctors use a procedure that opens the eye to drain. If lasers cannot be used or are ineffective, surgery can also help to create drainage by removing a piece of tissue from the eye or installing a mini shunt about the size of a grain of rice.
In conclusion, every year, countless people will suffer from this preventable vision loss. This is why National Glaucoma Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to gain information to help patients understand what Glaucoma is, as well as help to ensure they see their ophthalmologists regularly. As a nurse, you play an essential role in the prevention of Glaucoma.
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