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Archive for glaucoma

Glaucoma and the Risk to African-Americans

By Renee Bovelle · Comments (0)
Wednesday, March 4th, 2015
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Glaucoma and the Risk to African-AmericansYou may know that February is Black History Month – but did you know that January is Glaucoma Awareness Month?  If you’re wondering why these two are tied together, consider this: African-Americans are especially vulnerable to glaucoma, which is one of the most dangerous eye conditions.  If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to vision impairment and even blindness.  What’s more, once this happens, the damage is permanent, as there is no way to reverse the damage caused by glaucoma.

So why are African-Americans particularly at risk for developing glaucoma – and if you’re part of this group, what can you do to protect your health?

We are still researching why African-Americans are more likely to develop glaucoma.  Interestingly enough, another ethnicity that carries a significantly elevated list of developing glaucoma is Hispanics.  It’s estimated that these two ethnicities are six times more likely to develop glaucoma than any other ethnicity.  That means African-Americans and Hispanics need to be extremely careful in monitoring the health of their vision.

While we don’t know everything there is to know about glaucoma, it is worth noting that this disease appears to be genetic.  Many studies have shown that glaucoma can be passed down through the generations; therefore, if someone in your immediate family has had it, your chances of developing glaucoma significantly increase.  What’s more, studies have shown that siblings of people who have been diagnosed with glaucoma are much more likely to have glaucoma themselves.  With this in mind, it’s worth paying attention to the eye health of your family members, as it may have profound implications for your own ocular well-being.

Glaucoma can be difficult to catch because the symptoms often only appear once the disease has reached an advanced state.  Glaucoma steals your vision like a thief in the night.  So you should see an ophthalmologist at least once a year.

You should also schedule regular appointments if you meet the following criteria:

  • You’re over the age of 40
  • You have extreme nearsightedness
  • You suffer from diabetes
  • You’re of African or Hispanic descent
  • You suffer from hypertension
  • Have sleep apnea
  • You’ve used steroid medication for a significant period of time

For regular eye check-ups and advanced glaucoma care, schedule an appointment with Dr. Renee Bovelle of Envision Eye & Laser Center in Bowie, Maryland – also serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, DC areas.

Call (301) 805 – 4664 for to schedule an appointment today.

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Categories : Glaucoma, Old Age
Tags : African-Americans, DC areas, glaucoma, Glaucoma and the Risk Bowie, greater Baltimore and Washington, Maryland, ophthalmologist

Glaucoma and Your Eye Health: What You Need to Know

By Renee Bovelle · Comments (0)
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012
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When it comes to maintaining your eye health, it’s vital to know how to protect your eyesight from the onslaught of glaucoma.  Despite the severity of this disease (if left untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness), it isn’t the easiest eye condition to detect.  The disease is genetic, and often symptoms are often non-existent until later in life.  It’s estimated that of the four million Americans who have glaucoma, approximately two million are left undiagnosed.  Additionally, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans and the second leading cause of blindness in the world.

So what exactly is glaucoma, and what should you do if you think you have it?

 

Glaucoma and Its Symptoms

Glaucoma is a condition that develops when there is too much fluid pressure within the eyes.  This pressure damages the optic nerve, which is the main nerve that transmits images to our brains.  Therefore, when the damaged optic nerve is left unchecked, the continued pressure will cause blindness.  That blindness can become permanent after a few years if the glaucoma is still left untreated.

Typically, individuals over the age of 40 and who have a family history of glaucoma are most likely to suffer from it.  Glaucoma is also prevalent in African-American, Irish, Russian, and Hispanic populations.  The disease is also common in those individuals who suffer from diabetes, and who take certain steroid medicines.  It’s recommended that these individuals immediately seek an appointment with an eye doctor to check for glaucoma.

Symptoms of glaucoma include loss of vision, seeing halos around lights, eye redness, nausea, headaches, eye pain, and tunnel vision.

 

Treatments for Glaucoma

At Envision Eye & Laser Center in Glenn Dale, MD, serving the greater Washington DC area, southern Maryland (Prince George’s county) and Bowie, MD, Renee Bovelle, MD, works with patients to effectively treat glaucoma.  Depending on the type of disease you have, Bovelle will use the following treatments for glaucoma:

  • Drops are usually the first line of defense against glaucoma, which must be taken one, two, even four times a day, depending on the type of glaucoma.
  • Dr. Bovelle can use the Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) to treat glaucoma.  SLT is a relatively new laser treatment for open-angle glaucoma, but it is much less traumatic to the eye than Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT), which had been the standard laser procedure for glaucoma. This procedure eligible for newly diagnosed patients who don’t want to take drops; existing glaucoma patients who are using one or more drops and would like to reduce or eliminate them altogether; long-standing glaucoma patients who have been treated with the argon laser and whose pressures are rising. Click here to learn more about Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT).

If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms described above, or you’re at-risk for developing glaucoma, visit Envision Eye & Laser Center in Glenn Dale, MD today for innovative glaucoma treatments. Leave us a message here or call 301-805-4664 to learn about protecting your eyes from glaucoma.

 

 

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Categories : Glaucoma
Tags : glaucoma, Maryland Glaucoma Treatment, treat glaucoma, treat glaucoma Bowie, treat glaucoma maryland, treat glaucoma Northern Virginia, treat glaucoma Prince George's county, treat glaucoma Washington DC, Washington DC Glaucoma Treatment
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