Glaucoma - Understanding the Basics

One of the most common causes of blindness for people aged over forty years is glaucoma and it affects around one in fifty people in this age group. People are often unaware that they even have this condition as they may not suffer from any obvious symptoms. Nonetheless, it is important that it is detected early to avoid severe deterioration of sight.

The eye is separated into anterior and posterior chambers by the lens and by a muscle, called the ciliary muscle, which supports it. There is also a structure called the ciliary body which manufactures a fluid called aqueous humor that fills the anterior chamber. This needs to be continuously drained and, when glaucoma is present, this does not happen. This causes pressure in the eyeball to rise, thus causing problems with sight.

There are three major types of glaucoma and they are as follows:

1. Angle closure glaucoma 2. Open angle glaucoma, and 3. Narrow angle glaucoma

The angle is where the iris meets the cornea. It is also where the fluid drains from the eye.

In angle closure glaucoma, the angle gets blocked. Fluid continues to be made but is unable to drain. Because of this, the pressure in the eye builds up to a level which is harmful.

With open angle glaucoma, the angle stays open but fluid builds up when the structure at the back of the angle becomes blocked.

Narrow angle glaucoma is a condition where the iris and the lens touch, trapping fluid. The iris bulges forward, effectively closing off the drainage angle and causing acute glaucoma.

Other types of glaucoma include:

1. Congenital glaucoma 2. Pigmentary glaucoma, and 3. Secondary glaucoma

Congenital glaucoma is rare and affects infants. These children are normally diagnosed by the age of one and are usually born with a defect in the drainage system of the eye.

Pigmentary glaucoma is also rare and happens when the pigment from the iris blocks the drainage system. The system is eventually damaged because of the inflammation caused by this condition.

Secondary glaucoma is normally caused by injury, infection, tumor, inflammation or and enlarged cataract. Any of these conditions can lead to secondary glaucoma.

Often, people with glaucoma don't even realize that they have a problem as there are no obvious symptoms. The eyesight deteriorates so gradually that it is often unnoticed. The only real way of knowing that glaucoma is present is by a physical examination of the eye by a doctor or optometrist who may be able to see the problem by examining the eye with an ophthalmoscope.

An optometrist may notice if there are any areas of blindness in the part of the eye that is not used for detailed vision. This is the area affected with glaucoma initially. The area of the eye used for detailed vision is not affected at first and this is why people don't notice the onset of glaucoma for some time.

Treatment usually consists of drops that are placed in the eye three or four times daily to improve the rate of fluid drainage. Sometimes, surgery may be required to create a new outlet for the fluid. Treatment does not always work and, in some cases, the person may become progressively blind no matter what treatment is used. Once sight has been lost, it cannot be restored, so early diagnosis and treatment are essential.

Copyright 2006 Anne Wolski

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About Anne Wolski

Anne Wolski has worked in the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. She is a co-director of http://www.magnetic-health-online.com an information portal with many interesting medical articles and also of http://www.pharmacybyweb.com which has online physicians who can help you with any questions you may have.


And here is another random article you might be interested in...

5 Pricing Strategies To Increase Your Final Selling Price

Are you struggling to achieve the price you want for your items? Are you jealously watching your competitors' auctions generate more cash?

Use these power pricing techniques and watch your final value explode making you the envy of your competition.

The "I can't believe the price" technique

The best way to attract the most bids and high selling prices is to start your auctions with a ridiculously low bid price ie 0.99c/p. This will entice more bids and creates ownership......

What do I mean by ownership? Most of us have been there. You bid on that must have item at the ridiculously low price. Then, someone outbids you. You get mad........How dare they outbid you. It is your item and you're going to get it.

You make a counter bid. The other bidder follows and makes another counter bid and before you know it, you're both in a bidding frenzy and have smashed through your maximum bid ceiling and you end up paying more than you planned.

In my experience, this has only happened when I have started an auction with a very low starting price..........To create a frenzy, start low and most of the time you will achieve the selling price you are after.

The double auction technique

I have used this technique to great effect selling high ticket items in the featured listing category at the top of the auction search page. Note â€" it costs extra to list your item as a featured listing.

List your item with a starting price you would be happy to sell at. If after a few days, you have no bids, list the same product with a high fixed price or high starting price. Your new listing should appear near your first listing because few people use the featured listing category. Buyers look at both auctions and believe they are getting a bargain by bidding on the lower priced item.

The Wal Mart technique

You can use this technique when you are selling similar of identical products to your competition. You simply check the price of competing auctions and do a 'wal mart'. Simply list your item for less than your competition. Think about it â€" if there are two listing selling identical products, would you buy the cheapest or dearest?

The "why wait" technique

With this technique you set a buy-it-now price close to the minimum bid price. For example, if you were selling a pair of Nike trainers you could start the auction at $20 but have a buy-it-now price of $30. For a mere $10 more, the buyer can then buy the item without the fear of losing it by being outbid at auction.

The 'One Time Offer' technique

I use this technique every season with different products. You can have a summer sale where you offer a one time only percentage discount for a particular item. You then offer an Autumn sale with a different product. Plus, you don't have to wait for a change of season. You could have an end of line sale or moving office sale â€" the choice is yours. Just don't keep doing it with the same product.

Which one should you use? The answer is to test each one and use what works best for your products. Take action, never stop testing and watch your profits soar.

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About Jason

Jason Manning is an ebay powerseller and a business opportunity nut. Read his FREE no BS business opportunity reviews at http://www.no-bs-reviews.com.