Glaucoma is an eye condition which is characterized by
elevated fluid pressure within the eyes. If this is left untreated the sufferer
may become blind and lose his or her sense of vision. This disease often
affects both eyes and is one of the leading causes of blindness around the
world. Recent reports say that the level of estrogen during menopause has
something to do with the risk for acquiring glaucoma.
Glaucoma
For us to understand what glaucoma is all about, let us
first review the anatomy of the eye. In the front of the eye lies a small space
called the anterior chamber. The anterior chamber serves as a space where clear
liquid flows in and out to bathe and nourish the nearby tissues. However, in a
person with glaucoma, there is a defect in the movement of clear fluid within
the anterior chamber, so that either there is little or no drainage out of the
eye. As a result, fluid builds up within the eye and pressure within the eye
rises. This pressure within the eye needs to be reduced as soon as possible so
that there would be no damage to the optic nerve and other parts of the eye.
Eye damage caused by elevated pressures within the eye can lead to loss of
vision.
There are two main types of glaucoma—open angle and closed
angle. The term “angle” refers to the trabecular meshwork where the fluid in
the eye flows in between the iris and the cornea. This angle is lined up by
trabeculocytes. Fluid drains into the Schlemm’s canal which further flows into
the bloodstream. Primary open angle glaucoma is a type of glaucoma that
progresses slowly, so that the sufferer may not feel any symptoms and there is
gradual loss of vision that may go unnoticed. Usually, people with primary open
angle glaucoma do not seek any help until there is permanent damage already.
On the other hand, closed angle glaucoma or acute angle
closure glaucoma is a type of glaucoma with sudden onset of symptoms so that
the patient can experience pain and rapid vision loss. This makes the sufferer
seek medical help immediately so that there is prompt treatment to stop
permanent damage from occurring. There are also other two types of glaucoma:
low-tension glaucoma and pigmentary glaucoma. Low-tension glaucoma occurs when
there is no change in pressure yet there is still optic nerve damage. Experts
think that low-tension glaucoma is a result of oversensitivity of the optic
nerve or atherosclerosis of the blood vessel supplying the optic nerve.
Another type of glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, develops
during early adulthood or middle age. In this type of glaucoma, there are
pigment granules that arise from the back of the iris which are dispersed
within the eye. Once there is the buildup of granules within the trabecular
meshwork, the flow of fluids within the eye is affected, further leading to a
rise in blood pressure. There are some factors which affect the trabecular
meshwork, such as running and other sports.
The signs and symptoms of glaucoma include loss of
peripheral vision affecting both eyes, tunnel vision, severe eye pain, blurred
vision, nausea, vomiting, halo-like lights in the visual fields, and other
vision problems. Risks factors for glaucoma include old age, ethnic background,
some illnesses, injuries, eye surgery, myopia, and the use of corticosteroids.
Glaucoma Risk and Menopause
Several recent studies confirm the positive correlation
between the menopause and glaucoma risk since the low estrogen levels is
considered as major contributor to poor vision in women as they age. Here’s a
short summary and what it means to you.
* The optic nerve, the large nerve in the back of your eye
that sends vision to your brain, shrinks with age – about 0.2% / year. Low
estrogen contributes to this shrinkage.
* The pressure inside the eye-called the intraocular
pressure – also increases with age. That leads to the condition glaucoma. Women
in menopause have substantially higher intraocular pressure than before the
menopausal period.
* Scientists confirm that women are much more likely than
men to have glaucoma and cases of glaucoma are rising rapidly. This sex-related
statistical difference is attributed to the low estrogen levels. The experiments
with animals provide the actual proof that giving them estrogen decreases the
risk of the glaucoma development.
Early Menopause
Menopause before age 45 increases the rate of glaucoma 2.6 times.
So, how does this may affect you? Do you have any of the following conditions?
* Menopause before age 45
* Cancer with require treatment blocking estrogen.
* Surgery to remove your ovaries before age 45.
If you have any of the following situations or conditions,
or just in natural menopause, be sure and have your eyes checked at least
annually. Have them checked for vision and intraocular pressure.
A new study from the Netherlands Ophthalmic Research
Institute in Amsterdam have supplied additional evidence that women who
experience early menopause are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma later in
life. The study tracked 3,000 women, and those who went through natural
menopause before the age of 45 were confirmed more than twice as likely to be
diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma than women who went through menopause at age
50 or older.
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