Glaucoma

Timmy Donohue

History of the Disease

The disease has been known for centuries dating back to the ancient Greek civilization The Greek philosopher Hippocrates describe how blindness often occurred in more elderly people, which he called glaucosis

History of the Disease

Despite its discover many centuries prior, scientists were only able to understand and identify the disease in 1851 through the invention of the Ophthalmoscope by Hermann Von Helmholtz

What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the term used to describe a network of vision related disease that result from damage to the optic nerve that causes vision loss and even blindness

What is Glaucoma
Two of the most common types of glaucoma include: Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma Despite their different names, they are almost identical in their causes and symptoms
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma

Causes of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is often attributed to an increase in the intraocular pressure in the eyes The normal IOP for humans is 14-16 mmHg Whereas, in people with glaucoma, the average is at 22 mmHg

Causes of Glaucoma
This buildup of pressure can be the result of many environmental stresses including: sleep apnea, darkness and emotional stress However, the development of the disease is more commonly attributed to old age and the inability of certain parts of the eye to function

Causes of Glaucoma
Contemporary research has shown that there might be a genetic defect that can cause glaucoma In patients with primary open angle glaucoma, changes in the DNA sequence at genes including Caveolin 1 and 2, as well as deletions in DNA at genes including TBK1
Alteration of the serine protein was found to cause glaucoma in mice

Causes of Glaucoma
Despite their discovery of the genetic mutations found in many different types of glaucoma, scientists are still attempting to discover their significance

Symptoms of Glaucoma
In Open angle glaucoma, there are no noticeable symptoms until severe vision loss after the pressure in the eye has accumulated over time

Symptoms of Glaucoma
In closed angle glaucoma, the most common symptoms include: hazy or blurred vision, severe eye and head pain, nausea or vomiting, and sight loss

Symptoms of Glaucoma
As glaucoma can result in vision loss, it is very hard for the person with the disease to perform daily activities, as they cannot see very well, if at all Also, this disease may be very hard on the patients family as they have to care for them, as they have a hard time seeing things

Identification of the Disease

In closed angle glaucoma, the disease is nearly impossible to notice, as the effects of the disease dont kick in until many years after the disease is contracted However, if one were to visit an eye doctor, the doctor would be able to notice that they have glaucoma

Identification of the Disease

In all other types of glaucoma, the disease is easily identified, as the symptoms are visible very early in the development of the disease

Identification of the Disease

Scientists have also found that certain types Glaucoma are hereditary If a persons parents were to have had glaucoma, that person would be 9 times more likely to contract the disease

Treatments for Glaucoma

Common treatments for glaucoma include eye drops, pills, and laser surgery These treatments are all more effective early on in the diseases development as vision loss is irreversible

Bioethical Considerations
One of the main ethical concerns regarding Glaucoma lies in the question: to treat or not to treat? As there is incomplete knowledge regarding the diagnosis and management of the disease in patients, many of them receive the incorrect treatment, which can cause great harm to their vision Therefore, scientists are attempting to get a better understanding to try and avoid these confusions

The End
Works Cited Fazio, Doreen. "What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?" Glaucoma Research Foundation. N.p., 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. The Glaucoma Foundation. "PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA (POAG)." Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG). The Glaucoma Foundation, 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. The Glaucoma Foundation. "TREATING GLAUCOMA." How Glaucoma Is Treated. The Glaucoma Foundation, 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. Simon, Harvey. "Related Content." Glaucoma. University of Maryland, 23 June 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. Unknown. "Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.