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Understanding Glaucoma: Types and Treatment

Glaucoma affects around 200,000 Americans each year and can ultimately cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve head, though its exact cause is unknown. There are two main types - open angle glaucoma, which develops slowly with few symptoms, and narrow angle glaucoma, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent blindness. While open angle glaucoma progresses more gradually, both types can lead to blindness if not properly treated. There are many diagnostic and treatment options available, but currently no cure.

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65 views1 page

Understanding Glaucoma: Types and Treatment

Glaucoma affects around 200,000 Americans each year and can ultimately cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve head, though its exact cause is unknown. There are two main types - open angle glaucoma, which develops slowly with few symptoms, and narrow angle glaucoma, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent blindness. While open angle glaucoma progresses more gradually, both types can lead to blindness if not properly treated. There are many diagnostic and treatment options available, but currently no cure.

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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Glaucoma

Joyce Zhuang
Mentor: Dr. James N. Hess, Jr., O.D.
Date: May 20, 2016
Glaucoma affects around 200,000 American lives each year (Glaucoma
Research Foundation Glaucoma Facts and Stats). Still without a known
cause, the eye condition can ultimately leave its victims blind with damage
to the optic nerve head. There are two major types of glaucoma: open angle
and narrow angle glaucoma. Open angle glaucoma develops over time with
few obvious symptoms, while narrow angle glaucoma suddenly occurs when
the angle of the anterior chamber collapses. Narrow angle glaucoma is
typically referred to as a medical emergency that must be treated
immediately to avoid the onset of blindness. Although open angle
glaucomas process of causing blindness may change slower, both types of
this condition can lead to blindness if not properly and quickly treated. There
is currently no cure for the eye condition; however, a complex diagnosis
process and many treatment options are available. Glaucoma is genetic, but
since the cause is still unknown, individuals can not take preventative
measures. With information regarding who is more likely to develop
glaucoma, doctors can monitor patients and glaucoma suspects more closely
to take action against the diseases progression early on. Awareness plays a
major role in treating this condition; glaucoma patients must understand
what is happening to them, how a doctor can diagnose, and what measures
can be taken to stop glaucoma.

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