77 Million Blind People Could Get Their Sight Back
Glaucoma is the major cause of blindness right across the globe. Many millions of people are waiting for a cure. Scientists believe that they are on the verge of developing a new, easy to use treatment, that could potentially give the gift of sight to many of these people.
77 Million Await Glaucoma Cure
Glaucoma is an eye disease which causes higher than normal pressure inside the eyes. The optic nerve is affected and sufferers gradually become blind as damage to the nerve increases. It has been estimated that more than seventy-seven million people across the globe are blind because of glaucoma.(According to the Daily Express Newspaper.)
Glaucoma is the Leading Cause of Blindness
It is a leading cause of blindness; there may be no symptom until the condition starts to affect the optic nerve, and there is no cure for it yet. It can attack anyone from babies to elderly people but elderly people are far more likely to suffer from it. Around one in ten thousand babies in US is born with glaucoma and African Americans are more prone to it at an earlier age.
Image via Wikipedia
Have an Optician Check for Glaucoma
When you visit an optician and have your eyes checked you will be given an eye pressure test. This sounds more alarming than it is. You will be asked to keep your eyes open wide while a puff of pressurized air is fired in at the pupil of the eye. This feeds figures regarding pressure to a machine, which gives a pressure reading for your eyeball.
Image via Wikipedia
Pay Attention to Raised Pressure in Eyes
The optician will be able to tell if there is any problem. Although this does not sound very pleasant it doesn’t hurt and isn’t even uncomfortable; it just feels a bit strange and might make your eye water a little bit. If you have any sign of raised pressure, the optician will recommend that you have regular check-ups and if the pressure readings are anything more than slightly raised, you will be referred to a specialist to avoid any unnecessary risk.
A New Formula Decreases Eye Pressure in Glaucoma
Scientists have developed a formula which they believe will decrease the pressure inside the eyes and cure glaucoma. There are various medications available which can slow down the disease but these often have severe side effects and are not always successful.
Nerve Growth Factor Reverses Effect of Glaucoma
The new medication contains a ‘nerve growth factor’ which can stop cells from dying and improve eyesight. Trials have been done on a group of people who had a build-up of pressure in their eyes and for whom medication has been totally ineffective.
Is the New Glaucoma Treatment Available?
Results were very encouraging and the pressure was reversed in most cases. Scientist stress that further tests need to be done before the treatment can be prescribed by doctors, but they are confident about their discovery. Improvements have even been discovered in patients who already had severe optic nerve damage and the treatment certainly has the potential to offer a brand new way of preventing visual loss through glaucoma, in the future.
Liked it
cutedrishti8 | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
Nice one to share..Great work..helpful research
lindalulu | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
Wow…how wonderful!
Glynis Smy | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
Great information, so useful, thanks Louie.
Katien | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
That is good news. What a huge difference it could make for so many people.
Tim P Stavert | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
A very informative and reassuring article Louie.
I think it is one of the most feared disabilities, for someone to go blind. But to know that science is developing cures; it won’t only give people a piece of mind but may also save a lot on the NHS as cures for other diseases.
Best Wishes
Tim
Dee Huff | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
Well researched and very informative article Louie. I enjoyed reading it and learned a lot.
Mark Gordon Brown | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
As an artist I truly value my eyesight, and cannot imagine what it would be like without it, this is a good thing to cure.
Jhon | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
Useful informaton
sunshine926 | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
Well- done and good informative article. thank u.
Atikin | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
My dad is an eye doctor so I have heard of glaucoma but I never really knew much about it but now that I do, I really am amazed! This is a really serious problem. A really well researched article and thoroughly informative!
mystery61 | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
Great information, thanks!
Joe Dorish | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
Hope the new glaucoma treatment works!
gianne | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
This was so interesting to read. I hope that it all goes as planned!
Ruby Hawk | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
What a wonderful thing if glaucoma can be cured. it would be a miracle.
Daisy Peasblossom | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
This would be a thing to celebrate if it comes about.
Aktoastmaster | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
wow!
Judy Sheldon | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Our sight is so valuable that it will truly be a godsend if they can cure this. Thank you for your wonderful job in researching and presenting this information.
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Very informative.
Anne Lyken Garner | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
This is very encouraging. I’m sure it will come as great news to many people and their entire families who’re also at risk.
Geri OHara | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Hi Louie
another great article enjoyed reading it & thanx for the description of the eye pressure test. The eyes are something I know so little about. I had always good eyesight until this past year or so and now need glasses to read. i am always losing them….Never realised just how much I took my sight for granted!
papaleng | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
A very helpful breakthrough indeed.
CA Johnson | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Great article, Louie. That is great if there could be a cure for glaucoma. It is such a horrible thing to have to go through and that would be wonderful if there was a way for people to get their sight back.
Alexa Gates | Sep 5, 2009 | Reply
I hope this works Louie, that’s a lot of people who will regain their sight!
raman13 | Sep 8, 2009 | Reply
Good stuff
Keep the good work on
Best Regards
Tagach | Sep 9, 2009 | Reply
What a wonderfull achievement would it be! The research looks encouraging. I hope it will be realized very soon. God be with the research team. Thank you!