November 2017
Glaucoma Damages Optic Nerve WITH NO SYMPTOMS, IT’S IMPERATIVE TO CATCH IT EARLY By Harleena Singh, Staff Writer Glaucoma is a group of related eye disorders that can damage the eye’s optic nerve. The optic nerve carries information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma can result in vision loss and blindness. It is often linked to a buildup of pressure inside the eye, a condition called ocular hypertension. However, it can also occur when intraocular pressure is normal. Glaucoma tends to be inherited and may not show up until later in life. It is one of the main causes of blindness in the United States. It first causes peripheral vision loss and eventually can lead to complete loss of sight, so it is important glaucoma be diagnosed and treated early. During its early stages, glaucoma normally has no symptoms, which makes it dangerous. By the time you notice a problem with your sight, the disease has progressed to the point that irreversible vision loss has already occurred and additional loss may be difficult to stop. There are two major categories of glaucoma: • Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is the most common type. It is also called wide-angle glaucoma. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, primary OAG affects nearly 2.2 million people in the United States. That number is expected to increase to 3.3 million by 2020 as the U.S. population ages. The drain structure in the eye, called the trabecular meshwork, looks normal, but fluid doesn’t flow out like it should. OAG is three times more likely to affect African Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites in the United States. Blindness from glaucoma is at least six times more prevalent among African Americans than non-Hispanic whites. • Angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) is also called acute or chronic angle-closure or narrowangle glaucoma. It is less common in the West. The eye doesn’t drain correctly because the angle between the iris and cornea is too narrow; the iris is in the way. This can cause a sudden buildup of pressure in the eye. ACG is also linked to farsightedness and cataracts, a clouding of the lens inside
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ARE YOU DISABLED? HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? ARE YOU CAUGHT UP IN RED TAPE? $ FIND OUT IF YOU ARE OWED MONEY $
the eye. Symptoms of acute ACG include blurry vision, seeing halos An experienced Social Security Claims Advocate around lights, intense eye pain, can help you: nausea and vomiting. The American Academy of • By assisting you in filing your initial application. • Filling out and filing your appeals. Ophthalmology recommends hav• Gather medical and other important information to submit to Social Security. ing a glaucoma screening every • Contact your doctors to obtain a report of your medical condition. four years beginning at age 40 • By obtaining documents from your Social Security file and review them. years if you don’t have any glauco• By presenting opening and closing statements at your hearing that will state how ma risk factors and every two years you meet the Social Security listing of being disabled. if you’re at high risk or over age 65 For a FREE CONSULTATION of your claim call years. If you have health problems, Patsy R. Hughes, Disability Claims Advocate, such as diabetes or a family history of glaucoma or are at risk for other eye diseases, you may need to have exams more often. SM Treatment can involve glaucoma Do not miss out on your surgery, lasers or medication, right to collect social security depending on the severity of your disability. Call today! case. Eye drops with medication ADR aimed at lowering intraocular pressure are usually tried first. Because glaucoma is often painless, people may become careless about the NO FEE IS PAID strict use of eye drops that can UNLESS YOU WIN control eye pressure and help prevent permanent eye damage. Don’t discontinue using your eye drops without consulting your eye doctor about a possible alternative therapy. To control high eye pressure and promote eye health, try these tips: • Include dark leafy greens and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. • Limit the intake of caffeine; it may increase eye pressure. • Regular exercise may reduce eye pressure in OAG. • Using a wedge pillow that Kentucky CancerLink in partnership with Arthur Murray Dance Studio invites keeps your head slightly raised to you to CancerLink join us for anin elegant eveningwith of celebration and support cancer Kentucky partnership Arthur Murray Dancefor Studio invites about 20 degrees has been shown CancerLink in partnership with Arthur Murray Dance Studio invites survivors as they for hope. Dance Kentucky CancerLink in partnership with Arthur Murray Studio invites to join us for an elegant evening ofdance celebration and support for cancer to reduce intraocular eye pressure Kentuckyyou youfor to join for an elegant evening of celebration and support for cancer you to join us an us elegant evening celebration and support for cancer survivors asof they dance for hope. while you sleep. Saturday, November 11, 2017 survivors as they dance for hope. survivors as they dance for hope. • Some supplements such as Saturday, November 11, 2017 Grand Reserve ginkgo and bilberry are also adverSaturday, November 11, 2017 Saturday, November 11, 2017 (903 Manchester Street) tised as remedies, though further Grand Reserve Grand Reserve studies are required to prove their 6:00 pm (903Manchester Manchester Street) (903 Street) Grand Reserve effectiveness. 6:00 pm (903 Manchester Street) 6:00 pm References Pricing:
1-859-263-7780.
All About Vision (www.allaboutvision.com) American Academy of Ophthalmology (www.aao.org) Glaucoma Research Foundation (www.glaucoma.org) Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org/) National Eye Institute (https://nei.nih.gov) University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center (www.umkelloggeye.org) WebMD (www.webmd.com)
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