MEDICAL PROBLEMS: BRIEF
REVIEWSGlaucoma Michael J Katz
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Glaucoma is the term for a variety of
conditions that damage the optic nerve where it exits from the eyeball, at the
optic nerve head. Glaucoma causes progressive loss of sight, beginning in the
periphery of the field of vision. The disease is worsened by increased fluid
pressure within the eye, and it can usually be halted or slowed by using
eyedrops that reduce intraocular pressure. Three million Americans have
glaucoma, and >90% of glaucoma sufferers are >45 years old. Glaucoma is
the leading cause of blindness in African Americans, who are especially prone
to the disease. . . |