D ia g n o s is , t r e a t m en t o f a c o m m o n


S u b m itte d B y A lb e r ta H e a lth S e r v ic e s G la u c o m a is a le a d in g c a u s e o f


b lin d n e s s in C a n a d a . It is th e n a m e fo r a g ro u p o f e y e d is e a s e s th a t d a m a g e th e o p tic n e r v e . T h is n e r v e c a rrie s in fo rm a tio n fro m th e e y e to th e b ra in . W h e n th e n e r v e is


d a m a g e d , y o u c a n lo s e y o u r v is io n . G la u c o m a is o n e o f th e m o s t


c o m m o n c a u s e s o f le g a l b lin d n e s s in th e w o rld . A t firs t, p e o p le w ith g la u c o m a lo s e s id e (p e rip h e ra l) v is io n . B u t if th e d is e a s e is n ’t tre a te d , v is io n lo s s m a y g e t w o rs e . T h is c a n le a d to to ta l b lin d n e s s o v e r tim e . W h a t c a u s e s g la u c o m a ? T h e e x a c t c a u s e is n 't k n o w n .


E x p e rts th in k th a t in c re a s e d p re s s u re in th e e y e (in tra o c u la r p re s s u re ) m a y c a u s e th e n e rv e


d a m a g e in m a n y c a s e s . B u t s o m e p e o p le w h o h a v e g la u c o m a h a v e n o rm a l e y e p re s s u re . S o m e p e o p le g e t g la u c o m a a fte r


a n e y e in ju ry o r a fte r e y e s u rg e ry . S o m e m e d ic in e s (c o rtic o s te ro id s ) th a t a re u s e d to tre a t o th e r d is e a s e s m a y a ls o c a u s e g la u c o m a . H o w is g la u c o m a d ia g n o s e d ? G la u c o m a c a n b e d ia g n o s e d : • D u rin g ro u tin e e x a m in a tio n s w ith y o u r e y e d o c to r.


• W h e n y o u g o to y o u r fa m ily d o c to r b e c a u s e o f a n e y e p ro b le m . Y o u r d o c to r w ill a s k y o u q u e s tio n s a b o u t y o u r s y m p to m s a n d d o a p h y s ic a l e x a m in a tio n . If y o u r d o c to r th in k s y o u h a v e g la u c o m a , y o u w ill th e n n e e d to s e e a n e y e d o c to r fo r e y e e x a m in a tio n s a n d te s ts .


1 4 – L e th b rid g e H e ra ld A lb e r ta H e a lth S e r v ice s S e n io r s ’ D ire cto r y


H o w is it tre a te d ? G la u c o m a c a n 't b e c u re d . B u t


th e re a re th in g s y o u c a n d o to h e lp s to p m o re d a m a g e to th e o p tic n e rv e . T o h e lp k e e p y o u r v is io n fro m g e ttin g w o rs e , y o u 'll p ro b a b ly n e e d to u s e m e d ic in e (m o s t lik e ly e y e d ro p s ) e v e ry d a y . Y o u m a y a ls o n e e d la s e r tre a tm e n t o r s u rg e ry . Y o u 'll a ls o n e e d re g u la r c h e c k u p s w ith y o u r e y e d o c to r. H o w d o y o u c o p e w ith g la u c o m a ? If y o u h a v e v is io n lo s s , y o u c a n


k e e p y o u r q u a lity o f life . Y o u c a n u s e v is io n a id s , s u c h a s la rg e -p rin t ite m s a n d s p e c ia l v id e o s y s te m s , to h e lp y o u c o p e w ith re d u c e d e y e s ig h t. S u p p o rt g ro u p s a n d c o u n s e llin g m a y a ls o h e lp y o u d e a l w ith v is io n lo s s .


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