Glaucoma is a painless eye disorder due to high or abnormal eye pressure that slowly and imperceptibly damages eye nerves, leading to loss of vision.
There are many myths and truths of glaucoma:
Myth: glaucoma is curable; truth: glaucoma is treatable, but not curable.
Myth: glaucoma causes headache and eyestrain; truth: it does not.
Myth: glaucoma is a result of emotional stress or high blood pressure: truth: it is not.
Myth: glaucoma is affected by drinking or smoking; truth: it is not.
Myth: glaucoma may go away; truth: it does not.
Myth: glaucoma causes blindness; truth: it does not lead to blindness, if treated.
Myth: glaucoma can be treated with diet or Viagra; truth: there is no treatment other than eye drops and surgery.
Myth: glaucoma may be caused by menopause; truth: glaucoma is often a result of aging.
Glaucoma causes nerve damage that ultimately affects vision, which cannot be restored. Therefore, it is important to treat the disorder as early as possible. However, there are no symptoms, other than poor vision, in glaucoma. Therefore, it is important to have eye exam, if you are at high risk for glaucoma, such as a family history, an African American, poor vision, taking steroid medications, and over 50 years old.
Stephen Lau
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