May 2008

All glaucoma patients who need treatment with drops need to consider with their ophthalmologist, the possible benefits and potential side effects of any medication. When glaucoma affects a woman who is pregnant, breast-feeding, or considering having a baby, there are additional considerations in the strategies needed for safe treatment. Now there are two patients involved - the mother and the baby - and the ways in which a baby’s tissues and organs react to drugs may be quite different from those in adults.

I am often asked how it is possible for people to have raised eye pressure and not have glaucoma. In modern times, ophthalmologists have separated patients with raised eye pressure according to whether or not there is evidence of nerve damage at the back of the eye. Visual field tests and the appearance of the optic nerve on examination are the ways we evaluate the optic nerve for damage.

Most people know of the dangers of the sun to our skin. But many do not know that too much sun can also damage the eyes. As with skin damage, it is the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun which causes problems. Some problems are short-lived, others can be permanent.