Health Chats
Glaucoma
Friday Sep 24, 2010, 12:00PM - 01:00PM (EST)
1355143?1277166109
Staff, Gluacoma Department, Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute/Director, Glaucoma Fellowship Program, Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute
Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute
Ophthalmology - Glaucoma, Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute’s fully integrated model helps us provide patients with quick and easy access to specialty and sub-specialty care for a wide spectrum of eye conditions – from the routine to the complex. Each year, our internationally recognized staff carries out more than 160,000 patient visits and performs more than 6,000 surgeries. Our glaucoma staff specializes in the diagnosis and the medical and surgical management of primary, secondary and complicated glaucoma in patients of all ages. The Cole Eye Institute staff’s clinical expertise includes:<br/><br/> • Cornea and External Diseases<br/><br/> • Vitreoretinal<br/><br/> • Glaucoma<br/><br/> • Neuro-Ophthalmology<br/><br/> • Pediatrics and Adult Strabismus<br/><br/> • Oculoplastics<br/><br/> • Oncology/Eye Tumors<br/><br/> • Uveitis<br/><br/> • Laser Vision Correction Surgery<br/><br/> Edward J. Rockwood, MD is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Director of the Glaucoma Fellowship Program. He received his undergraduate education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduating with a BS in biology. He continued with medical school at State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Science. Dr. Rockwood next completed his residency in ophthalmology at Cleveland Clinic, followed by a clinical and research fellowship in glaucoma at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Since 1986, he has been a staff physician in the Glaucoma Department at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. Dr. Rockwood has been listed in Best Doctors in America from 2003 to present.<br/><br/> The focus of this Health Chat will be on Glaucoma.<br/><br/> Glaucoma is a condition characterized by increased pressure in the eye and impaired eyesight, ranging from slight vision loss to total blindness. Glaucoma is not a single disease, but a group of eye diseases that have one feature in common: progressive damage to the optic nerve caused by increased pressure within the eyeball. The pressure comes from a clear fluid called the aqueous humor. This fluid helps to nourish the eye, and flows in and out of the eye through a mesh-like channel.<br/><br/> In people with glaucoma, the fluid does not drain properly and pressure builds up in the eye, damaging the nerve that transmits images to the brain. As this deterioration of the optic nerve continues, vision worsens, and eventually, blindness can result.<br/><br/>
mdebski:
what can i do to help my parent with glaucoma?
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
Family members can help in a number of ways.  They can help get their parents to and from appointments and can make sure that they are using the eye drops correctly and are purchasing them as needed.
Quinnh:
can marijuana treat my glaucoma? and is it legal?
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
Marijuana is illegal in most states.  Marijuana only slightly lowers eye pressure.
Dalilah1993:
Hello doctor, I'm a 17year old girl that keeps having headache mostly everyday. I worry about myself and sometimes it gets worse in the morning, but my headaches are bad I can't very look at things and when I do have them my eyes hurt too. Can you please help me doctor?  Can you tell me what I might have and what's causing it?
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
It would be unusual for your headache to be due to glaucoma.  You may have either tension headaches or migraine headaches.  You should contact your family doctor or pediatrician.  There are medications to control migraine headaches.
BK2005:
What are the risk factors for glaucoma?  Is glaucoma a genetic disease?  Is there anything that can be done to prevent glaucoma?
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
The biggest risk factor for glaucoma is if you have already been found to have high eye pressure.  This is more likely if you have a family history of glaucoma.  At this time most glaucomas are not preventable but are treatable.
mdebski:
what's involved in a glaucoma screening, and what should my doctor be looking for?
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
In glaucoma screening, your eye doctor will usually take a family history, check your vision and eye pressure, dilate the pupils and exam your optic nerve for signs of glaucoma.  If the doctor suspects glaucoma he or she may do visual field testing and take photographs and a computer image of your optic nerve.
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
The optic nerve is what is damaged by high eye pressure in glaucoma.
eltuto:
Do nutrition and exercise affect glaucoma?
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
Good nutrition is beneficial for every organ in your body.  Regular exercise slightly reduces eye pressure.
PATTYPATCH:
The fluid bubble is not in the  bleb area. It is on the lower front surface bottom temporal side of my iris in the left eye.
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
The filtering bleb can be localized at the top of the eye and sometimes may spread to the side or bottom of the eye.
ChitChatNine:
Why does Glaucoma show no symptoms oftentimes and is detected at a routine checkup?  Can diet help?
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
Glaucoma usually causes no pain.  The damage in the vision usually begins in your side vision and you may not notice it until it becomes more severe.  Also glaucoma usually doesn't cause discharge, redness or other symptoms.
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
While diet is important for your general health, it does not much affect glaucoma.
um_3amori:
iam on prednisone 20mg..and iam afraid i would develop  glaucoma,,so what symptoms should i be looking for?
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
Most people on prednisone need it for a very important medical reason.  If you are on prednisone you should have an eye exam to see if your eye pressure is increasing.
ChitChatNine:

My friend had an incident of "white coat syndrome" happening to her with high intraoccular pressure readings.   Have you ever heard of that?  I've heard of it with high blood pressure ... ??
MedHelp:
This will be the last question.
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
Nervousness can drive up your blood pressure, but generally has no affect on eye pressure.  However patients receiving the glaucoma pressure test should be aware that breath holding or lid squeezing can artificially elevate eye pressure.
MedHelp:
Thank you Dr. Rockwood for answering our questions and all the members who participated today!
Dr. Edward Rockwood:
The Cole Eye Institute at Cleveland Clinic is rated in the top 10 nationally for ophthalmology by US News and World Report.  Our ophthalmologists see patients with routine to complex eye conditions.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Rockwood or one of our other specialists please call 1.800.223.2273, ext 42020.