Why are my children at risk of getting Glaucoma?

Five years ago a change happened in our lives, Glaucoma hit suddenly and fast. The news over the phone was a shock to hear from my mother, telling me she had Glaucoma and it was unfixable….at first l couldn’t understand why the medical doctors couldn’t fix it

and bring back her sight. I thought it was a treatable disease that could be fixed, but what l didn’t know was it was that bad the Glaucoma (and with help from type 2 diabetes) had completely killed the living cells in one eye and destroyed part of the other eye. But then there was more news that concerned me, my siblings and our children. My mother’s medical doctors had given advice to tell us that Glaucoma is carried in the genes and is genetically passed down to other generations, we might be at risk and some point get it in our lives. OMG!!My mother had laser surgery done on the eye (with living cells) to remove the Glaucoma and see if any eyesight would return. Now my mother can only see shadows in a certain light. The eye that was completely destroyed has a fake eye, which looks so real. My mother explained to me that the Glaucoma came suddenly and with hardly any warning at all. Like one minute she was seeing fine and the next it was like a tunnel and then her sight was gone.

A little about Glaucoma:

Glaucoma is caused by pressure in the eye, damage to the optic nerve that can cause vision loss. Anyone at any age can get Glaucoma, especially if there is a history in the family.

Symptoms:

It often has no symptoms but here are some common signs -

Severe pain and vision loss

Blurred vision

Seeing coloured rings around lights

Nausea

Vomiting

People most at risk are:

A family history of the eye condition

Diabetes

An injury to the eye

Used steroids regularly over a long period of time

Treatment:

Glaucoma can be treated with laser work

Medication

Surgery

Types of Glaucoma: Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form. Some people have other types of the disease.

1. Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma. Optic nerve damage and narrowed side vision occur in people with normal eye pressure. Lowering eye pressure at least 30 percent through medicines slows the disease in some people. Glaucoma may worsen in others despite low pressures.

   A comprehensive medical history is important in identifying other potential risk factors, such as low blood pressure, that contribute to low-tension glaucoma. If no risk factors are identified, the treatment options for low-tension glaucoma are the same as for open-angle glaucoma.

2. Angle-closure glaucoma. The fluid at the front of the eye cannot reach the angle and leave the eye. The angle gets blocked by part of the iris. People with this type of glaucoma have a sudden increase in eye pressure. Symptoms include severe pain and nausea, as well as redness of the eye and blurred vision. If you have these symptoms, you need to seek treatment immediately.

   This is a medical emergency. If your doctor is unavailable, go to the nearest hospital or clinic. Without treatment to improve the flow of fluid, the eye can become blind in as few as one or two days. Usually, prompt laser surgery and medicines can clear the blockage and protect sight.

3. Congenital glaucoma. Children are born with a defect in the angle of the eye that slows the normal drainage of fluid. These children usually have obvious symptoms, such as cloudy eyes, sensitivity to light, and excessive tearing. Conventional surgery typically is the suggested treatment, because medicines may have unknown effects in infants and be difficult to administer. Surgery is safe and effective. If surgery is done promptly, these children usually have an excellent chance of having good vision.

4. Secondary glaucomas. These can develop as complications of other medical conditions. These types of glaucomas are sometimes associated with eye surgery or advanced cataracts, eye injuries, certain eye tumors, or uveitis (eye inflammation). Pigmentary glaucoma occurs when pigment from the iris flakes off and blocks the meshwork, slowing fluid drainage. A severe form, called neovascular glaucoma, is linked to diabetes. Corticosteroid drugs used to treat eye inflammations and other diseases can trigger glaucoma in some people. Treatment includes medicines, laser surgery, or conventional surgery.