Elevated Eye Pressure

Early Treatment of Ocular Hypertension

March 2, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of vision loss in the United States.

Currently, 4-7% of the United States population over the age of 40 is suffering from ocular hypertension, one of the leading risk factors of Glaucoma. However, early treatment of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) can greatly reduce the risk for the development of glaucoma. This is especially true for individuals at the highest risk, including:

• Elevated Eye Pressure: Normal eye pressure is 12-21 mm Hg. anything above 21 is considered elevated.

• African Americans: Glaucoma is at least times more common in African Americans than in Caucasians.

• People over the age of 60: The risk of glaucoma rises by as much as six times after the ago of 60.

• Family History of Glaucoma: POAG may be hereditary. Positive family history increases the risk of glaucoma up to nine times.

• Hispanics: Recent studies indicate that the risk for Hispanic populations is about halfway between Caucasians and African Americans.

• Asians: People of Asian decent are at a higher risk for narrow angle or acute angle-closure glaucoma.

• Steroid Use: A 1997 study reported in the Journal of American Medical Association demonstrated a 40% increase in the incidence of ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma in adults who require approximately 14 to 35 puffs of steroid inhaler to control asthma.

• Eye Injuries: Injury to the eye may cause secondary open-angle glaucoma.

The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) Group recently conducted a study comparing the safety and efficiency of earlier and later treatment of ocular hypertension in reducing the risk for POAG. The study examined 1,636 individuals with increased IOP ranging from 24 to 32 mm Hg in 1 eye and 21 to 32 mm Hg in the other eye. The participants were then randomly assigned to observation or to receive topical ocular hypotensive medication.

Medication group: Median duration of treatment was 13.0 years.

Observation group: Median duration of 7.5 years without treatment and then received medication for a median of 5.5 years.

Researchers then compared the cumulative proportion of participants who went on to have POAG in both observation group and in the medication group at a median follow-up of 13 years.

The Results of the Study

• The proportion was 0.22 in the original observation group (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19 – 0.25)

• The proportion was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.13 – 0.19) in the original medication group (P =. 009), or a 27% reduction in glaucoma risk associated with early treatment.

• The cumulative proportion of participants who went on to have POAG was 0.40 (95% CI, 0.33 – 0.46) and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.22 – 0.34), respectivelcCy.

Still, each patient and each instance of elevated IOP or ocular hypertension must be treated on a case-by-case basis. It is up to the physician to determine whom to treat and whom to observe.

“I try to only begin treatment on someone that truly needs preventative therapy, while not over treating anyone that we can simply monitor and keep safe without treatment,” said board certified ophthalmologist Sam Boles.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about Early Treatment of Ocular Hypertension, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Cast your vote now for Anne Arundel Eye Center, Dr. Boles and Dr. Frank in Chesapeake Family Magazine’s Favorite Docs 2012! Voting ends on March 15th.

Dr. Boles and everyone else at the Anne Arundel Eye Center proudly support the efforts of The Polakoff Foundation and their role in the ongoing fight against glaucoma. Click here to purchase tickets online for the Polakoff Foundation’s Mardi Gras Celebration to help raise money to aid the fight against blindness.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

Glaucoma and Cataracts may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter,Google+, and YouTube as well!

What is a Glaucoma Suspect?

February 10, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

The term glaucoma suspect describes a person who does not currently have glaucoma, but one who might be at risk of developing glaucoma. The risk factors of glaucoma include:

• Elevated Eye Pressure (IntraOcular Pressure – IOP)

• Suspicious Optic Nerve Cupping

“It’s like all of the players are on the field, but the game has not started,” explained April Pevear, a Patient Care Specialist at Anne Arundel Eye Center. A glaucoma suspect has all of the signs of glaucoma without actually having definite glaucomatous optic nerve damage or a visual field defect. However, a great overlap can exist between findings in people with early glaucoma and in those who are merely glaucoma suspects. This is why regular eye exams are so important, whether or not you need glasses.

Early detection equals earlier, simpler and more effective treatment.

Glaucoma Suspect Monitoring and Treatment

Sometimes treatment is not even necessary. In many cases, regular eye exams and vigilant monitoring are the best ways to handle glaucoma suspects. However, if treatment is deemed necessary, the best way to treat a glaucoma suspect is to lower the elevated IOP. This is typically done with eye drops and should help reduce the risk of developing glaucoma. These drops work by either slowing the production of aqueous fluids in the eye or by improving the flow of fluid out of the eye through the drainage angle and into the veins.

Another excellent treatment option would be laser treatment. There are several laser options currently available to treat many of the different types of glaucoma. Laser surgery utilizes a focused, gentle beam of light to help the fluid drain from your eye and decrease IOP. This type of outpatient procedure can be done right at your doctor’s office with minimal recovery time. However, it must be noted that laser surgery WILL NOT change your vision. It WILL slow and potentially stop glaucoma progression.

Even after treatment, regular check-ups with your eye-care practitioner – ophthalmologist or optometrist – will be needed to monitor your situation and help prevent any future vision loss.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of legal blindness in the United States, behind only cataracts.

• Over 60 million people worldwide (2.2 million Americans) have glaucoma and experts estimate that nearly half of them are unaware they are currently affected by the disease.

• Up to 10 million Americans are estimated to suffer from elevated IOP, making them glaucoma suspects. And about 1% of these individuals will develop glaucomatous damage.

• Currently, between 80,000-116,000 people have been declared legally blind because of glaucoma.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about Glaucoma Treatment in Maryland, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Cast your vote now for Anne Arundel Eye Center, Dr. Boles and Dr. Frank in Chesapeake Family Magazine’s Favorite Docs 2012! Voting ends on March 15th.

Glaucoma and Cataracts may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter,Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Adult Glaucoma Suspect

Glaucoma Suspect & Ocular Hypertension