Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged. Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve at the back of the eye becomes damaged usually by high pressure in the eye.

Put simply, if the optic nerve comes under too much pressure then it can be injured. This can cause a person's sight to deteriorate and in some cases, can lead to blindness.

What are the characteristics of Glaucoma?

There are four main types of glaucoma, the most common being chronic glaucoma. The term chronic means ‘over time’ and in this condition pressure within the eye increases very slowly and painlessly. So slow is its progression that the brain is capable of adjusting to the loss of vision, so that no visual impairment is immediately apparent.

The image on the card below simulates the effect of Glaucoma



(Taken from http://www.healthyeyes.org.uk∞)

Is there a treatment to arrest the progression of Glaucoma?

Although glaucoma cannot be cured and damage already done to the optic nerve cannot be reversed, its development can be stopped. In fact the main treatment for chronic glaucoma aims to reduce the eye pressure, often by a course of eye drops. A small operation to reduce the pressure is also sometimes necessary.

Are there any useful teaching and learning strategies for people with this visual impairment?

For information on teaching and learning strategies, click here


Fighting Blindness
1 Christchurch Hall
High Street
Dublin 8
Tel: +353 1 709 3050
Fax: +353 1 709 3010
Web: http://www.fightingblindness.ie/∞


Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
National Headquarters and Training Centre
Model Farm Road
Cork
Tel: 021 4878200
Fax: 021 4874152
Lo-call: 1850 5063000
Email: info@guidedogs.ie
Website: http://www.guidedogs.ie∞


National Council for the Blind of Ireland
Whitworth Road
Drumcondra
Dublin 9
Tel: (01) 8307033
Fax: (01) 8307787
Email: info@ncbi.ie
Web: http://www.ncbi.ie∞


Royal National Institute of the Blind
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Tel: 020 7388 1266
Fax: 020 7388 2034
Website: http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/code/InternetHome.hcsp∞


Back