While there's still no cure for glaucoma, the research team hopes to advance towards clinical trials for this new technology in the near future.
The future hope is to restore vision that has been lost. That can't presently be done. The present treatments can slow the process so much that no meaningful loss occurs in the person's lifetime. Successful glaucoma surgery can lower eye pressure to a safe level (see section on Operations for glaucoma).
Promising New Research
Meanwhile, genetic and cellular regeneration therapies are being experimented with, in the hopes that they will one day lead to preventing or reversing damage to optic nerve tissue. There is strong evidence that cataract surgery can effectively cure closed-angle glaucoma.
While there is no cure for glaucoma, people experiencing the condition can enjoy a normal, active, and fulfilling life by keeping the condition under control to slow or prevent vision loss.
Future technology
As we discover more about the etiology of glaucoma, we can develop more novel treatment modalities. One such future technology that shows promise is the use of nanoparticles in the delivery of IOP-lowering drugs. Timoptic-XE is a prime example of this technology.
Absolutely. The aim of treating patients with glaucoma is for them to be able to maintain their quality of life and live as normally as possible. Patients with glaucoma have a normal life expectancy and, with treatment, can carry out activities as they did before diagnosis.
ViaLase has developed a novel non-incisional glaucoma treatment, called femtosecond laser image-guided high-precision trabeculectomy, or FLigHT, for short.
Glaucoma is indeed a potentially blinding disease. Worldwide, it is the second most common cause for irreversible blindness. However, with early diagnosis and modern treatment, blindness is very uncommon.
People over age 60 are at increased risk for the disease. African Americans, however, are at increased risk after age 40. The risk of developing glaucoma increases slightly with each year of age.
Older age is not only a risk factor for the diagnosis of glaucoma, but also for its progression. Overall, these studies show that the percentage of patients with glaucoma increases dramatically with age, especially in patients who are of Latino/Hispanic and African descent.
High trans fats have been proven to cause damage to the optic nerve. Time to cut out fried foods, baked goods and any product with an ingredient list that includes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Saturated foods that include red meat, beef, lard, shortening and oils can also worsen glaucoma.
By the time you notice vision loss from glaucoma, it's too late. The lost vision cannot be restored, and it's very likely you may experience additional vision loss, even after glaucoma treatment begins.
“Strict adherence to medication is the single most important thing a patient with glaucoma can do to keep their vision from worsening,” Yohannan says.
Glaucoma is a slowly progressing problem. On an average, untreated Glaucoma takes around 10-15 years to advance from early damage to total blindness. With an IOP (Intraocular Pressure) of 21-25 mmHg it takes 15 yrs to progress, an IOP of 25-30 mmHg around seven years and pressure more than 30 mmHg takes three years.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness
And unfortunately approximately 10% of people with glaucoma who receive proper treatment still experience loss of vision.
Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive eye disease caused by damage to the optic nerve, which leads to visual field loss. One of the major risk factors is eye pressure. An abnormality in the eye's drainage system can cause fluid to build up, leading to excessive pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve.
At this stage, glaucoma is quite advanced. Stage four is characterized by damage to the optic nerve. This is a situation that will need to be corrected for the patient to continue functioning normally. Stage five is the last stage where vision loss occurs.
There are often no early symptoms, which is why 50% of people with glaucoma don't know they have the disease. There is no cure (yet) for glaucoma, but if it's caught early, you can preserve your vision and prevent vision loss. Taking action to preserve your vision health is key.
Certain drugs and eye diseases can cause yet another form of the disease, called secondary glaucoma. But probably the most serious form of the disease is closed-angle glaucoma. It occurs when the angle becomes suddenly blocked, causing pressure in the eye to rise sharply.
Did you know? Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in Australia. It is estimated that over 300,000 Australians have glaucoma, but 50% are undiagnosed.
MIGS, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, is a relatively new approach to glaucoma treatment. Referring to a group of minimally invasive procedures, MIGS offers alternative surgical treatment options for glaucoma that pose fewer risks than traditional glaucoma surgeries.
Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) has become the preferred approach to glaucoma management for many eye care professionals and their patients with mild-to-moderate glaucoma.
Untreated glaucoma can lead to the faster development of permanent vision loss or blindness. Treatments can slow down additional vision loss, but they can't restore lost vision. It's important to see an eye doctor right away if you have eye pain, severe headaches or vision problems.
stages: stage 0 (normal visual field), stage I (early), stage II (moderate), stage III (advanced), stage IV (severe), and stage V (end-stage). Staging criteria are based mainly on the HVF, with MD as the primary measure.