Here are the answers to last week’s quiz

Question #: 1 Which of the following best describes glaucoma?

The correct answer: a group of eye diseases which when left untreated damage the nerves carrying images from the eye to the brain. This can result in blindness. {{more}}

In the past, scientists felt that having high intraocular pressure meant that one has glaucoma. The truth of the fact is, some people with moderately high eye pressure may not have glaucoma. This condition is known as ocular hypertension. The optic nerve fibers are very sensitive to the pressure in the eye. When pressure builds up in the eye it compresses the optic nerve fibers and causes the cells to die. This results in damage to the 1.2 million nerve fibers that transmit images from the eye to the brain. The development of glaucoma depends more on how much pressure the optic nerve can take and not necessarily how high the eye pressure is. It must be noted, however, that often times the doctor may decide to treat ocular hypertension depending on other factors, such as the appearance of the optic nerve, loss of peripheral vision and corneal thickness among others.

Question #: 2 Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for glaucoma?

The correct answer: having brown-colored eyes

Answer explanation: You are at greater risk for glaucoma if you are of African origin, over age 65, diabetic, very nearsighted, have a family history of glaucoma, use steroids or cortisones over a long period of time, had a previous eye injury and have high intraocular pressure.

Question #: 3 If you have one of the risk factors for glaucoma, how often should you get a comprehensive eye exam?

The correct answer: every one to two years

Answer explanation: If you have any of the risk factors for glaucoma, you should have an exam that includes tests for glaucoma every one to two years. For those with no risk factors, the Glaucoma Research Foundation recommends an eye examination every two years.

Question #: 4 Which of the following tests is 100 per cent effective in determining whether you have glaucoma?

The correct answer: none of the above

It should be noted that there is no single test that is 100 per cent effective in determining whether one has glaucoma or not. The diagnosis of the disease depends on many factors, some of which include the measurement of your visual acuity (evaluation of your central vision), Perimetry (evaluation of your peripheral vision), Tonometry (measuring eye pressure), Ophthalmoscopy (evaluation of the optic nerve and retina), Gonioscopy (evaluation of the anterior chamber angle) and Pachymetry which measures the thickness of your cornea.

Question #: 5 Which of the following is the most common form of glaucoma?

The correct answer: open-angle glaucoma

Answer explanation: Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. It is the leading cause of blindness among people of African origin and six times more common. It usually occurs when the aqueous humor fluid passes very slowly through a meshwork drain in the anterior chamber. As a result, the pressure in the eye increases gradually and causes the cells in the optic nerve to become compressed. If left untreated this compression causes the nerves to die and can result in blindness.

Next week, we will wrap up the topic

Until then.

Dr Kenneth Onu is a resident Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Beachmont Eye Institute/Eyes R Us. Send questions to: Beachmont@gmail.com

Tel: 784 456-1210