So why is a visual field test so important?

A visual field test is designed to measure central and peripheral vision. Peripheral vision is our side vision, everything visible to the periphery. Hold your arms out to your side and while looking straight ahead, notice whether or not you can see you fingers when you wiggle them. That’s a simple indicator of side vision, but the eye doctor administers a test that is more extensive, of course. The visual field test helps to determine the severity of a patient’s glaucoma.

What’s the test like?

The most common form of visual field test involves a light spot that flicks on and off in various locations. The patient’s head is held still with a chin rest. As they stare straight ahead little lights are flashed in the periphery testing site. When a patient notices the lights, they are instructed to press a button in order to communicate that they actually saw the light appear. Some people find this test to be a tad nerve wracking as the light movement is quick and randomly appears in a variety of locations. However, the test is entirely painless.

Why does the test need to be performed annually?

The initial field test gives the doctor a baseline with which to monitor the progression of the disease. Glaucoma is a slow moving disease that often goes undetected until extensive damage to the eye has already taken place. Once a baseline has been established, all follow-up testing will help to identify whether the disease has progressed and if the appropriate treatment is being received.

Is this the only way to test field vision?

Imaging of the optic nerve and surrounding tissue is another test that is used to identify level of damage specifically to the optic nerve as well as the speed of progression of the disease. This test will give your doctor additional information, but at this time, there is no test that has replaced the traditional vision field test. Both tests work together to give a more complete picture of a patient’s disease.

Don’t be nervous

Some patients have a little trouble relaxing during the test. They may even be tempted to try and cheat the test by looking around to compensate for lack of peripheral vision. Hitting the button indiscriminately can also lead to unreliable outcomes on the test. Just relax and do your best to follow the request of your doctor.

Certain types of people are more vulnerable to glaucoma than others. These would include the following:

• People who are over 60 years old
• People who have a history of glaucoma in the family.
• People of specific ethnicities: African-Americans are six to eight times likelier to develop glaucoma than Caucasians. Other ethnicities that are at higher risk include Asian-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Japanese-Americans.
• People suffering from chronic conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and heart disease.
• People who’ve suffered eye injuries such as eye tumors, retinal detachment, and eye inflammations put you at higher risk of glaucoma.

People who fall in this category should get a comprehensive eye check up done every two years. This can help detect glaucoma in its initial stages, allowing the patient to seek early intervention that can prevent vision loss. There aren’t too many known treatments for glaucoma. Effective alternate remedies are also few and far between. However, there seems to be some hope for patients since a recent trial found that the herb ginkgo biloba was effective in fighting against glaucoma.

Studies indicate that having 120 milligrams of ginkgo every day for a period of two months has an extremely positive effect on the vision. This ancient herb has the ability to improve blood circulation which, in turn, goes a long way in improving the vision. In addition to ginkgo biloba there are other supplements that are known to reduce pressure in the eye. These include vitamin C, melatonin, and cod liver oil. Animal-based omega-3 fatty acids are also known to be extremely beneficial in promoting healthy retinal function.

Zeaxanthin and lutein are also two amazing vision powerhouses, but not a lot of people know about them. Both are cartenoids that have the ability to protect eyesight. Lutein is found in green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, collard greens, kale, brussels sprouts, and broccoli. One thing that you must remember is that lutein requires oil to be absorbed by the body. Consuming vegetables without healthy fat will not do you much good.

While almost anybody can develop glaucoma, certain factors can place you at higher risk of this condition. For instance, age is a major determining factor. As age progresses, one becomes more susceptible towards developing glaucoma. However, those over 50 are at higher risk than the others. Similarly, people suffering from myopia or nearsightedness are also at higher risk of this condition as are people who are suffering from medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, migraine, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure.

It is helpful to know about the other factors that increase your probability of developing glaucoma. The more common ones are being looked at below:

• Previous Eye Injury: If you’ve suffered previous injury to your eye, you could be at high risk for secondary open-angle glaucoma. Blunt trauma to the eye or injuries that penetrate the eye can damage its drainage system, thereby causing traumatic glaucoma. Such injuries are most commonly associated with sports like boxing and baseball. It isn’t necessary that the condition develop immediately after the injury. It can occur years later as well.

• Ethnicity & Race: People of certain racial or ethnic backgrounds are likelier to developing glaucoma than others. For instance, African-Americans are five times more susceptible than Caucasians to glaucoma. Also, African-Americans are prone to developing the condition at younger ages. In fact, if you compare African-Americans and Caucasians in the age group of 45-64 years, you find that, once diagnosed with the condition, the former are likelier to lose their sight to the condition than the latter.

Asians, too, are at increased risk for closed-angle glaucoma, a relatively rare form of this condition, which constitutes less than 10% of all diagnosed cases. On the other hand, people from Japan are more susceptible to normal-tension glaucoma.

People of Latino ancestry are a lot likelier than other races to develop primary open-angle glaucoma.

• Family History: Primary open angle glaucoma – the most common form of glaucoma – is hereditary. If a member of your immediate family is diagnosed with this condition, you are four to nine times likelier to develop this condition by the time you are 70 years old.

• Steroid Users: There is some evidence to support the hypothesis that use of steroids can lead to glaucoma. A study published in the Journal of American Medical Association in 1997 proved that among adults who used high doses of steroids to control asthma (about 14-35 puffs of the inhaler) there was a 40% higher chance of developing open-angle glaucoma.

Whether at high risk for glaucoma or not, it’s essential for everyone under 40 to get a comprehensive eye examination done every 3-4 years. Those above 40 must get tested every 2 years or so. However, if any of the above mentioned risk factors is true for you, the tests must be conducted every 12-18 months. Remember, glaucoma can easily be detected and while vision loss cannot be restored, it can be prevented with early intervention.

According to the statistics published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, primary open-angle glaucoma (the most common form of glaucoma) affects more than 2 million people in the US alone, a number that is expected to cross 3 million by 2020. On a global scale, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, after cataract.

While there are two main types of glaucoma – primary open-angle glaucoma (also known as chronic glaucoma) and acute angle-closure glaucoma – the four other variations of this condition include secondary glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, and congenital glaucoma. All six forms are being looked at in some detail in this article.

Chronic Glaucoma/Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

Open angle glaucoma accounts for 90% of all glaucoma cases. More than half the patients suffering from this condition never even know they have it. Caused when the drainage canals in the eyes are clogged slowly over time, chronic glaucoma leads to gradual loss of peripheral vision. In some cases, patients develop tunnel vision where they can see only objects right in front of them.

Angle-closure Glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma – a less common form of glaucoma – is also known as narrow-angle glaucoma or acute glaucoma. The condition develops rapidly and is caused by blockage of drainage canals, which causes an increase in intraocular pressure.

The symptoms of narrow angle glaucoma are noticeable and include headaches, eye pain, red eyes, dilated pupils, halos around lights, and vision loss. These symptoms tend to last for a few hours, and each episode can lead to deterioration of vision. When you or someone close to you experiences these symptoms, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention.

Normal-tension Glaucoma

Normal tension glaucoma is also known as low-tension glaucoma, normal-pressure glaucoma, or low-pressure glaucoma. It is a type of chronic glaucoma where optic nerve damage causes visual field loss, despite the intraocular pressure not being very high. Here again, like open angle glaucoma, the condition goes unnoticed until there is permanent damage and tunnel vision develops. The causes of this condition remain unknown, although medical professionals believe it has got something to do with the optic nerve receiving poor flow of blood.

Pigmentary Glaucoma

Pigmentary glaucoma is an extremely rare condition, seen typically in white males in their mid-thirties and forties. It is caused when pigment breaks loose from the iris, thereby reducing the rate of aqueous outflow from the eyes. Over a period of time, the inflammation leads to the drainage angle of the eye getting clogged, damaging the drainage system permanently.

Secondary Glaucoma

Secondary glaucoma can either be open angle glaucoma or closed angle glaucoma and it is usually caused by eye injury, eye infections, and growth of blood vessels on the iris, abnormal growth in cornea tissue, advanced cataracts, and inflammation in the eye.

Congenital Glaucoma

A yet another rare condition, congenital glaucoma may be inherited since it is present at birth. Nearly 80% of the cases are only diagnosed by age 1 or above, since children are unable to understand, much less communicate, what is happening to them. If parents notice that their child’s eye is hazy, cloudy, white or protruding, a doctor must be consulted immediately. It is possible to correct the defect with the help of surgery and medication.

The American Optometric Association said contact lenses should be fitted by a physician. Yet 28 percent of people who buy colored contacts for Halloween buy them illegally. We’re talking from gas stations, flea markets, beauty salons and the Internet.

Here are some safety tips for contact lens wears:

• Wear contact lenses only if they are fitted and prescribed by an optometrist.
• Do not purchase contact lenses from gas stations, video stores, or any other vendor not authorized by law to dispense contact lenses…

Click the full article here.

Millions of teenagers suffer from acne, and they deal with the embarrassing skin blemishes by taking popular prescription medications such as Accutane or Roaccutane. Now, however, research from Tel Aviv University shows that taking these popular prescription pills are at an increased risk of developing infections.

The very common side effects of Accutane and Roaccutane are dryness skin, dry lips, nose and eyes. It also reduced the eye dryness and itchiness as consequences, could lead to infection like ophthalmia or conjunctivitis.

Researchers said that teenagers should be aware of some of the side effects that come with acne prescription pills, and recommends teenagers on oral acne medication use artificial tears, or eye drops.

Glaucoma Prevention

Eye Care America is offering free or no out-of-pocket expense eye exams. They will be available in eye clinics all over the country, so be sure to check out their website to find a match near you.

Minorities such as African Americans, Asians and Hispanics have the highest risk for glaucoma and other eye diseases. They are also less likely to receive regular eye exams as preventive measures. Dr. Mills, chairman of EyeCare America, says “we want all Americans to get the eye care they need. It is our goal to ensure that the cost of medical care never stops someone from getting an exam.”

If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, ask your doctor about latanoprost, the leading glaucoma treatment.

See if you quality for a free eye exam at EyeCare America here.

Glaucoma Prevention

Although we consider stress to be a negative reaction to our environments, in some cases, stress is a good thing. A study was recently published in Molecular Medicine describing the positive effects of stress on the eyes. The study states that good stresses, such as low oxygen air and exercise, can strengthen the eyes.

This study is the first of its kind to show that ‘tolerance introduced by preconditioning’ may prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma. The study was completed on mice. The researchers found that in the mice who had been exposed to low oxygen levels, similar to what would be found at high altitudes, only 3 percent of their retinal ganglion cells died after they had been given laboratory introduced glaucoma. In the mice without preconditioning, 30 percent of their retinal ganglion cells died. Glaucoma becomes worse as more and more a person’s retinal ganglion cells died.

However, this preconditioning only works if it has happened before glaucoma sets in. If you already have glaucoma, only medications will help to prevent its advancing. Talk to your doctor about Xalatan, an eye drop which promotes proper drainage in the eye, which stops glaucoma.

Blurred Vision - Glaucoma or Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are two of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. For diabetics, retinopathy is the leading cause. Diabetic retinopathy is the result of microvascular retinal changes in the eye. New veins and capillaries begin to grow. However, these new growths aren’t healthy, and often bleed, which causes the customary vision-blurring and eye reddening. Blurred vision is also a symptom of glaucoma. Here are the top 5 tips for preventing diabetic retinopathy.

1. Know the symptoms – Double vision, flashing lights, redness or blood in the eye, difficulty reading…all of these are symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. Be sure to schedule an optometrist appointment if you experience any of these. Early diagnosis is key to keeping your vision.
2. Regular eye exams – as soon as you are diagnosed with diabetes, be sure to make an appointment with your ophthalmologist. You may have been living with the disease for some time, raising your risk of diabetic retinopathy. After this, be sure to get regular eye exams. Your ophthalmologist will be able to catch any retinopathy before it becomes serious. We recommend annual exams for diabetics.
3. Maintain your blood sugar – if your blood glucose levels rapidly rise, it can actually change the shape of your eye’s lens. This can cause blurred vision.
4. Exercise – overall wellness is important not just for your eyes, but to keep your diabetes in check. It also helps to maintain your blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause a cloudy lens and blurred vision. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the right exercise regimen for your body.
5. Protect your eyes – eye protection is important for everyone, not just diabetics. Remember to wear protective sunglasses when at the beach, on the water, and especially on the ski slopes. White snow’s reflective quality can cause eye damage.

If you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend that you use long acting insulins such as Lantus or Levemir. Be sure to maintain your blood sugar if your have diabetes. The hypertension sometimes caused by high blood sugar can also cause glaucoma. Glaucoma is incurable, but is easily treatable. Talk to your doctor about one of the top-selling glaucoma eye drops in the United States.

The idea for this study came from an interesting source – atomic blast survivors. Scientists have noticed that survivors had a particularly low risk of glaucoma, and wondered what had kept the sight-stealing condition at bay. They believed that the rays protected against the complex early pathogetic process that occurred in the retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve head. These processes may eventually lead to glaucoma. In the mice, researchers found that the important retinal ganglion cells had survived, but only in the eye exposed to the x-ray.

The researchers suggested that both monocytes and endothelial cells played a part in the radiation-affected part of the eye. The resultant upflux of endothelial cells may deter the influx of monocytes into the optic nerve. According to the researchers, “our data support what we believe to be a new model in which monocytes are essential for glaucomatous damage and suggest that glaucoma is primarily a neuroinflammatory disease.”

If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, talk to your doctor about latanoprost eye drops, one of the most popular glaucoma treatments on the market today.