Bono, the frontman for the popular Irish pop-rock band U2, has a pretty recognizable look. He wears sunglasses all the time: indoors and outdoors. When asked about his trademark look on the Graham Norton Show on BBC1 Bono admitted that he wears his signature sunglasses because of light sensitivity caused by glaucoma.
“This is a good place to explain to people that I’ve had glaucoma for the last 20 years,” Bono explained to host Graham Norton. “I have good treatments and I am going to be fine.”
Now, this is a good place for me to remind our faithful readers that glaucoma is usually asymptomatic – that is there are usually no symptoms until late in the process. The fact that Bono has light sensitivity is possibly due to the fact that he has an unusual sup-type of glaucoma called “Uveitic Glaucoma.” This is very rare, and can sometimes present with photophobia (sensitivity to bright light) and lead to high eye pressure. This is associated with JRA or other arthritis or inflammatory conditions.
Glaucoma Facts and Frequently Asked Questions
What is Glaucoma?
The term glaucoma actually refers to a group of eye conditions that lead to intraocular pressure (IOP) and damage the optic nerve, the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Click Here to learn more about the different types of glaucoma.
What are the Warning Signs of Glaucoma?
Glaucoma presents without initial signs and symptoms. This is why it is often called the sneak thief of sight, gradually stealing as much as 40% of a person’s vision (starting with peripheral or side vision) before they even notice.
It is estimated that over 2.2 million Americans have glaucoma but only half of those know they have it. And vision loss is irreversible.
How is Glaucoma Diagnosed and Treated?
At the end of the day, the best way to prevent vision loss and manage glaucoma is with regular eye exams. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to managing glaucoma, as it must be treated over the course of one’s life, and high IOP must be managed every day. So you have to ask yourself, “When was my last eye exam?”
Glaucoma Treatment in Annapolis, Maryland
The Anne Arundel Eye Center is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles and his staff have helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision. They can help you too.
Treatment successfully preserves vision 95% of the time or more, especially when the condition is caught early.
If you have any questions about Glaucoma Treatment or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, please Dr. Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or Clicking Here. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.
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I also have glaucoma in both of my eyes ! I am on 4 eye drops for my pressures.