When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn't know what I was going to do. After the devastation subsided, I decided to take a very standard, western approach to my healing. Although initial efforts were successful, my cancer recurred a few months later. I endured many additional months of treatment before I started focusing on myself. I decided it was time to incorporate complimentary alternative treatments into my healing regimen, including massage therapy. I can't even begin to tell you how much it changed my life. My healing became a process, instead of something I simply had to endure. I hope that the articles on my website can inspire you to stay open-minded about your own healthcare.
Sight is arguably the most important sense the human body has, and for anyone who has been blessed with vision from birth, the thought of losing it is terrifying. Glaucoma is caused by increasing pressure on the optic nerve. It is a progressive disease, and unfortunately, it is not reversible. Because it is the second leading cause of blindness, after macular degeneration, scientists are, of course, busy working on a cure. In the meantime, patients must rely on treatments that delay both progression and the inevitable.
Who Gets Glaucoma?
Anyone can get glaucoma, but some people are more susceptible. Black Americans are far more likely to be stricken with glaucoma, and at a younger age, than their Caucasian peers are. Black Americans suffer vision loss due to glaucoma at a rate 6-8 times higher and blindness 15 times higher than white people. New research suggests Asians and Hispanics are also more prone to glaucoma. Adults over the age are also more susceptible, although it can strike at any age. Additionally, the condition can run in the family. Previous eye injury, steroid use, and uncontrolled hypertension can also be contributing factors.
What Are The Treatment Options Currently Available?
Eye Drops Drops are usually the first line of defense in treating glaucoma. There are several different types.
Prostaglandin analogs work by forcing the eye to expel excess fluid. Beta blockers work by slowing fluid production to begin with. Alpha agonists work to both increase drainage and reduce production while Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors help to reduce eye pressure. Eye drops may be used in combination to achieve the desired effect.
The primary side effects for all are eye irritation, which is pretty much constant. There may also be other side effects, such as hypotension, depression, and fatigue. Additionally, some eye drops are quite expensive, and they aren't always covered by insurance, which can make treatment prohibitive for poorer patients.
Laser Surgery Treatment with lasers helps to reduce the intraocular eye pressure, but it is not a cure. It will, however, help delay the use of medications or lessen the dosage. Eventually, the procedure will no longer be enough and medications will be required.
Marijuana Glaucoma is one of a handful of conditions that is hailed as a candidate for medical marijuana treatment; it indeed lowers eye pressure. However, the effects only last a few hours, and treatment is required 24 hours a day, every day. One would have to use marijuana several times a day, and the side effects would likely cause problems in other areas of life, therefore, it really isn't the best treatment option long-term, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend its use.
For more information, contact companies like Coastal Eye Care.
Share30 November 2016
