 | William L. Park, OD, FAAO is in private practice in Wichita, KS. He works exclusively with patients referred for low vision evaluation, low vision rehabilitation and neurological vision loss. He is a past Director of Low Vision Services, Lions Research & Rehabilitation Center, Wilmer Eye Institute-Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Park can be reached at William L. Park, OD, LLC, www.parklowvision.com, 610 N. Main, Suite 201, Wichita, KS 67203, (316) 440-1690 or drpark@parklowvision.com. |
Vision
2011-01-01 10:18:00
Glaucoma
Answer: Glaucoma leads to blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Elevated pressure in the eye is a risk factor, but even people with normal pressure can lose vision to glaucoma. Although eye drops can lower your pressure, they do not cure the disease. The drops merely treat the glaucoma to slow the progression of the disease, so you may still experience difficulties in many activities. Adverse effects of long-term uncontrolled glaucoma can compromise enjoyment of many daily tasks.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans, and is six to eight times more common in African Americans than in Caucasians. Glaucoma is much more common among older people and you are six times more likely to be diagnosed with glaucoma if you are over 60-years-old. The most common type of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, is hereditary. If members of your immediate family have glaucoma, you are at a much higher risk than the rest of the population.
The unfortunate reality is that many patients do not express their decreased capability to perform normal activities of daily living to their families, friends or colleagues because of their frustration, fear or lack of knowledge. This can often lead to withdrawal from common social activities and a diminished quality of life.
Your concern may be due to the slowly decreasing peripheral and/or central vision, resulting in the inability to see normal print, function well in poorly lit conditions or environments, travel safely in a known or unknown location or drive with confidence.
There is no magic number relating to visual acuity that applies when the level of vision may be a compromising factor in performing any everyday task. It is important to understand that with today’s technology and an interdisciplinary vision rehabilitation team, most goals are possible and vision rehabilitation should be sought when difficulties arise.
If you are having difficulty, you may want to talk to your practitioner about a referral for low vision rehabilitation. An evaluation by a vision rehabilitation team consisting of a vision rehabilitation practitioner (optometrist or an ophthalmologist), an occupational therapist and an orientation & mobility specialist in the same clinical environment may dramatically and expeditiously accomplish improvement in visual function, while providing patient education about resources, therapeutic interventions and environmental adaptations along with enhancing quality of life.
It is very likely that filters would help you with contrast issues, glare and night vision. Other optical devices may assist you in basic activities of your daily life. I encourage you to talk with your eye doctor and ask for a referral for low vision rehabilitation with a team who can work together to help you remain as independent as possible.
