Tears are necessary to keep our eyes moist and health. This helpful video from the American Academy of Ophthalmology will help answer questions and explain common eye diseases and treatments.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma involves a silent build up of pressure damaging the optic nerve. These helpful videos from the American Academy of Ophthalmology can help answer your questions and explain many common eye diseases and treatments.
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What is glaucoma?
In a healthy eye, fluid is made in the front of the eye and flows out through the trabecular meshwork, which is a part of the drainage angle. If fluid doesn't flow out properly, eye pressure increases and damages the optic nerve.
To learn more about glaucoma, eye health and how to take care of your vision, visit EyeSmart, from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-glaucoma.
Mire en español: https://youtu.be/QRiM0i3U25s -
How the Eye Works and Glaucoma
To maintain a healthy eye pressure, your eye continuously produces a small amount of aqueous humor, which circulates in the front part of your eye, and an equal amount flows out. If more aqueous humor is produced than flows out, an unhealthy eye pressure may develop and damage the optic nerve. Learn more at http://www.geteyesmart.org. -
Open-Angle Glaucoma
A healthy eye continuously produces aqueous humor, which circulates in the front part of your eye, and allows an equal amount to flow out. With glaucoma, aqueous humor does not drain properly and an unhealthy eye pressure may develop, pressing on the optic nerve and damaging optic nerve fibers. Learn more at http://www.geteyesmart.org. -
Closed Angle Glaucoma
To maintain a healthy eye pressure, your eye continuously produces a small amount of aqueous humor, which circulates in the front part of your eye, and an equal amount flows out. If the iris blocks the drainage angle and aqueous humor cannot drain properly, an unhealthy eye pressure may develop. Learn more at http://www.geteyesmart.org. -
Optic Nerve Fibers
A normal optic nerve is made up of more than a million nerve fibers. With glaucoma, as the optic nerve is damaged, it loses nerve fibers and changes in appearance, called cupping. As cupping increases, blind spots develop. Ophthalmologists use a visual field test to look for these blind spots. Learn more at http://www.geteyesmart.org. -
Visual Field
In the early stages of glaucoma, the visual field remains normal. As the optic nerve experiences further damage, blind spots begin to appear. These blind spots typically go undetected in your day to day activities, until the optic nerve is significantly damaged and the blind spots become large. Learn more at http://www.geteyesmart.org. -
Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT and SLT)
Two types of laser trabeculoplasty, ALT and SLT, are used to treat open-angle glaucoma. These laser surgeries are used to treat the drainage system of the eye, called the trabecular meshwork. Treatment improves the flow of fluid out of the eye, helping to lower pressure. Learn more about glaucoma treatment at http://www.geteyesmart.org. -
What happens during laser iridotomy surgery?
Laser iridotomy is a surgery that's used to prevent or control glaucoma. An ophthalmologist uses a laser to make a tiny hole in the iris (colored part) of the eye. This opening - usually the size of a pinhead - allows fluid to flow from behind the iris and out through the drainage angle.
To learn more about glaucoma treatment, eye health and how to take care of your vision, visit EyeSmart, from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/glaucoma-treatment
Mire en español: https://youtu.be/EiEarArHmnw -
Trabeculectomy
Trabeculectomy creates a new drainage channel for the eye, allowing fluid to flow into a filtering area called a bleb, which is mostly hidden under the eyelid. When successful, this procedure will lower the pressure in the eye, minimizing the risk of vision loss from glaucoma. Learn more about glaucoma treatment at http://www.geteyesmart.org. -
Setons
If your eye is at high risk for scarring and your eye pressure has to be lowered, your ophthalmologist may recommend placing a tiny drainage tube in your eye called a seton. The tube creates a new channel for the fluid to flow from the eye to a filtering area called a bleb. Learn more about glaucoma treatment at http://www.geteyesmart.org.
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