Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Glaucoma

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision.

Insight:

• This damage is often caused by abnormally high pressure in your eye.
• Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over 60 years of age. It can occur at any age but is more common in older adults.
• Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is at an advanced stage.
• Because vision loss due to glaucoma can't be recovered, it's important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of eye pressure so a diagnosis can be made in its early stages and treated appropriately.
• If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented.
• There may be several types of glaucoma, including open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, and acute-closure glaucoma.
• Glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve.
• Risk factors may include being over 60 years of age; being Black, Asian, or Hispanic; having a family history of glaucoma; having eye surgery; or taking specific medications.
• Treatment may include prostaglandins, beta blockers, alpha-adrenergic agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, rho kinase inhibitors, and miotic or cholinergic agents.

Sources:

• Glaucoma - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
• glaucoma images - Google Search