What is GLAUCOMA? | Optometrist Explains

What is glaucoma? Optometrist Explains
Today we talk about glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world.
In the US, it affects about 3.5% of the population above 40
If you have a sibling with glaucoma your odds of having glaucoma increases by 4x
If you have a parent with glaucoma your odd increase by 1.38x
00:00 Introduction
00:31 Background
01:24 Prevalence
02:11 Treatment
02:25 Symptoms
03:40 Pathophysiology
04:43 Screening methods
05:34 Mechanism
06:20 Preparing for glaucoma
06:36 Risk factors
07:31 Normal tension glaucoma
07:52 Family history
08:23 Getting eyes tested
08:50 Treatment pt.2
09:24 What creates the pressure?
10:01 Conclusion
Glaucoma treatment | Eye disease | Glaucoma symptoms | eye pressure | causes of glaucoma | open angle glaucoma

[@AdvancedOphthalmologySurgery]

Nice and acessible review on the basics of glaucoma! Fortunately nowadays a combination of eyedrops, LASER treatment, and surgical techniques are able to address and stabilize mst cases from mild to severe! The secret as always is prevention and especially patients with risk factors should visit for consutlation regularly! Good work and channel Dr Antonio!

[@AntoniotheOptometrist]

💕

[@aayedoon]

@@AntoniotheOptometrist there is any way to.improve it or fish oil helps us to improve eye sight?

[@timmo971]

@@AntoniotheOptometrist (not really relevant to this post but..) Can you recommend a really good optometrist in Melbourne? One who explains things/options. I’ve had limited and let’s say unsatisfactory experience and would like to change who I see because I’m a beginner with eye health.

[@giggles2302]

I'm 53 with congenital glaucoma, and I had no idea that the retina had even more than one layer. Thank you, this is interesting information to study more. As for one more risk factor, if your mother was exposed to Rubella (German Measles) while pregnant, the fetus could develop glaucoma. In my family, only one other person had glaucoma, and she was my grandmother's half sister. Since she was more of a distant relative, and no one else in my family has had it besides us, I asked a Dr if it was more possible that my mom was exposed to Rubella while pregnant. He said yes, the cause of my glaucoma was more probable from that (if it happened) than from inheriting it from my half great aunt. Another form of control that, at least used to be used, is oral medication. I used to take Diamox as a kid, and since they were pills, they affected both eyes (my glaucoma is in both eyes rather than in just one). The pills affected both eyes, so the left was always doing just fine. The IOP in the right eye was always harder to control, so I've taken drops for that since infancy. I was taken off of Diamox cz it can cause kidney damage, and as a result, I began needing drops in the left eye as well as the right. As for symptoms, glaucoma can DEFINITELY have at least one symptom, which is pain. Ohhhh, then pain!!!! My IOC once went up to 60, which had me vomiting from the pain. That was in the right eye, the wild card that wasn't controlled as well as the left. When I was 15 it was removed as a result of surgery complications (choroidal hemorrhage due to a failed Molteno tube implant), and ever since I've not had any issues with IOC, as the glaucoma was never that bad in the left eye. The difference has been like night and day. :) :) :)

[@hemmydall]

Got diagnosed with Glaucoma 11 years ago at 24. Started getting severe ocular migraines that caused loss of vision during them, nausea, weakness, etc. Basically a couple times a month I'd be completely incapacitated for 8 hours, and have a migraine hangover the next day. Thankfully it was caught and managed right at the nerve damage limit before permanent vision loss. As my eye pressure was lowered those migraines became less frequent, until the last couple years I haven't had any at all (though some days just some long lasting regular headaches). Also got a laser treatment. Was told over a decade the eye will heal over the laser surgery, but in the meantime its helped reduce the eye pressure while using fewer drops.

[@sabrinathewitch6396]

Would really appreciate it if you talk about " lazy eye " it's causes and treatments.

[@AntoniotheOptometrist]

*in production*

[@jlt131]

you explain things so well and clearly! thank you :D

[@steven-vn9ui]

I am an Optical Assistant and find your videos fantastic to watch. You manage to put things to your viewers in an easy to understand way. I much appreciate you. Thanks.

[@Smokycummins]

The algorithm is starting to be in your favor. I don't know why your videos were recommended to me but they are very interesting and informative. Keep up the good work 👍

[@MTobin1000]

Hello Dr. Hong. My name is Mike. I'm 57 years old and for the first time in my life I've been prescribed glasses. (far sighted and astigmatism) This arena is all new to me....picking out glasses, buying glasses, caring for glasses, etc. etc. I've stumbled upon your KZbin channel and I'm very glad that I did. I've watched about a half dozen of your videos and you do an excellent job with explaining things in simple terms. I appreciate that very much. I look forward to learning from you as I subscribe, like and follow your channel....Cheers !

[@vitorlucas3789]

Thank you so much for your content. My dad was diagnosed with this problem 18 months ago. It was almost too late to do something. Unfortunately he had his right vision lost due to it and a big damage in his left one. Results showed only 20% is what he has left in his remaining vision. Since then he has been dropping twice a day his glaucoma eyedrop medicines. It has been bringing results and we are calmer. And it helped me to check myself since I found out some relatives were diagnosed too.

[@SamuelMitchell1]

Thanks for making such good videos Antonio, really interesting learning about my eyes, I would love to see a video on nystagmus.

[@kellileannjones2101]

this imformation access helps people so thank you... could you do a video on episcleritis and eye inflammation?

[@megank7235]

really interesting. thank you.

[@Hippiechick11]

Thank you for the video. I was just diagnosed with glaucoma in my right eye. I have no family history of it on either side. So it was a big surprise. As a person who is very nearsighted, I have been very careful about eye exams, so fortunately caught it very early. I am very happy to get more information on this disease.

[@atropa6894]

Hey Antonio, can you do a video on nystagmus? Not a lot of people know about it (in my experience) and making a video about it could probably change someone's life. Thanks!

[@vortex925]

Hereditary Glaucoma, aniridia, nystagmus, astigmatism and no cataracts. As an 8yo had both eyes had trab surgery once a week for 4 weeks (they're first kid for both eyes 3xL,1xR but held 20+yrs) so I get the snowball effect of light sensitivity but still sighted atm.

[@LotusXiao]

Thank you Doctor, we had an appointment to an Optometrist today, and he suspects my dad has glaucoma but we have to undergo some tests first to determine if it's highly susceptible to that disease.... He just told me that the pressure is around 48-50 in his right eyes, and probably can affect the other eye if not treated.... Thanks now I have an insight what's this disease does to our eyes.... Hoping for more knowledgeable videos 😍😍😍

[@AmeiWasHere]

thanks for this! I have glaucoma, it's always interesting to learn more about it. I've had it since I was 14.

[@dominiqueritchey6795]

Are you able to do a video about polyopia vision types?

[@InvisibleRen]

I don’t have glaucoma but have gotten glaucoma treatments. A dead nerve or blood vessel (can’t remember which, probably heard both from different doc) after head trauma left me to see a combo of blurred and black translucent spots in one eye. But they’re huge, all over-more like a textured film, and they shift if I focus enough. Because the black spots are transluscent, it dulls the colors of everything making it look more grey. I’ve been searching for years for a visual representation of what I see and I think this is the closest I’ve come across. 😮Which is sad because it’s still not quite right. 😅 I hate visual field tests even though I know they’re important for monitoring my vision loss. It’s super frustrating though when you know there’s something flashing because it’s been a while but you can’t see it. And if the tech doesn’t know you or didn’t look at your chart, they’re like, “Did you forget how to press the button?” No, I didn’t. I just can’t see anything. 😭

[@hippiemcfake6364]

Thanks for the video! Very informative. As silly as it sounds, I do research where I often touch on eye diseases but I don't have an ophthalmology background, so this was very helpful to me. I work with specialists that provide the necessary domain knowledge, but I also want to build up some foundations. I'd even be interested in something that goes into more detail, but I think this is a great level for a wider audience.

[@attheranch873]

There’s nothing silly about wanting to know things!

[@irinuccams]

Thanks Antonio! 👍

[@AntoniotheOptometrist]

🤙

[@wonderingjibril1210]

Your videos are very interesting and well done. Always wanted to know what would cause someone to have flat corneal. For years now contacts have been a bit of a hit or miss if I don't get them customized. As they will slide right off of my eyes, even being told that my corneal was too flat for laser surgery. I always wonder what causes this?

[@susannekeohane6059]

Thanks for the video could you do a video on light sensitivity as I have glaucoma and have had laser treatment which has left me with chronic sensitivity to bright sunlight. It’s particularly worse when driving with the sun directly at you. Thank you

[@Briebabcock8052]

Im almost 30 and I have this in my right eye (the optic nerve is very thin, and yes, my vison will fluctuate at times) ever since I was born. My optician has been watching this for well over a decade and has been keeping my mom's macular degeneration stable (she doesnt see greater than 400 but has minimal vision with no facial recognition) when it developed around seven years ago.

[@effsam6317]

Fab useful video

[@autumn_3989]

Hi! I was born with glaucoma and cataracts (not entirely sure which ones though) I can now see (still legally blind tho) bc they put those lil tubes in my eyes when I was younger and removed my lenses and now I have to take daily eye drops It’s really cool to learn about this stuff so if I’m ever asked about it I can explain it properly so thank you :D

[@nintonic20]

My French Teacher has Glaucoma, and it was hard to see how if someone was in the back of the room he couldn't even see them. He also lost complete vision in his left eye. He liked to move people to different seats every 3 weeks, and I was in the front of the room. Since he could see me he always talked to me and other people in the front, but whenever I was moved to the back of the room. He didn't talk to me as much as he simply couldn't see me. He thankfully was a really happy and nice guy who is clearly pretty happy with himself and what he does!

[@endlessend2646]

Is it possible to get a showcase of nearsightedness with astigmatism. I think that's what I have but I'm not entirely sure. My corrected vision is fine to a degree, but I notice that lights still have that starring pattern that you would see with a patient with some astigmatism. Enjoyed that video btw!

[@k.w.6304]

Could you do a video about migraines, and their visual disturbances (auras) please?

[@noellevidal6379]

Love it! I have glaucoma suspect because of my IOP is very high, so I do periodic exames once a year. Not glaucoma yet, tk god. I do have nistagm (dont know if it is called this in english). Could you do a video of it too?

[@mcrg]

Waiting for a video about "Uveitis" from you

[@MrBriwolf]

As someone who was born with Retinopathy of Prematurity and who now has glaucoma this video felt.. sort of soothing? I'm only 24 but now taking drops and feel as if I'll be okay. Maybe not perfect vision, never known what that's like , but I know now what might've caused it to begin with. Thank you for making this video Antonio. Is it possible you'd make a video on ROP in the future?

[@AntoniotheOptometrist]

My pleasure and I’d like to cover more eye related topics in the future for sure!

[@anubhav2317]

@@AntoniotheOptometrist can you do one on best vitelliform symptoms and tips

[@lindaj5492]

Please could you do videos about cataracts and macular degeneration?

[@Sympatiko85]

i think i have been misdiagnoed it would be difficult to say Glocoma is hereditary since it is ao difficult to diagnos. i remeber the periferal machine. i would be tired and star guessing the flashes wanting it to be over

[@nancyjanethcalzadaleon1085]

Hello Antonio! How do you define ametropia, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia? I am studying vocabulary of Optometry in English, I am also Optometrist in Mexico 👋☺️ I like your videos, I learn a lot of vocabulary ❤️

[@AntoniotheOptometrist]

I trust google’s dictionary definitions more than my own 😂 so I would just look them up on google. Sorry about that I just genuinely think you’d get more benefit from the dictionary than my own answers. I’m glad I could provide some info to you though. Would love to visit Mexico one day, greetings from Australia ! 🇦🇺

[@nancyjanethcalzadaleon1085]

@@AntoniotheOptometrist 😂😆 yeah it's true! I'll look up my definitions🤭 But, I trust in you too, I like your explanations about visual health, thanks for sharing !! 💞 Oh! Australia 😱 !! It's awesome 😎 Mexico is a beautiful country too in my opinion 🥰 I will keep watching your videos! 👀

[@auricom24]

A video about the rainbow scotom would be nice. Optical rainbow waves are funny.

[@attheranch873]

Hello, could you do a video on how people see color differently? I see the world as very colorful, but When I was an art school and we were tested I found much to my surprise that I see color just a little bit differently than other people. It seems like I see just a tiny bit of yellow with everything. Like a gray I might see as a gray green or what other see as blue I might see as bluegreen. I see pinky peach when others see pink. It seems like yellow is added to the colors that I see. I remember my parents arguing about color, they were both so sure of what they were seeing. My dad‘s vision and mine were the same. I’d love an explanation of this if you have time, thank you.

[@danielvillanuevadonoso1183]

my mom has this dessease and i wonder if stress is a factor on glaucoma... does it?

[@shayan724]

Can you explain that I just went to lasik surgery and I am experience really bad glare, do you know if this is permanent thing?

[@susannekeohane6059]

Also I have had special sunglasses made for light sensitivity. It works sometimes but when the sun is strong it doesn’t

[@christinajones7696]

Thank you for the knowledge you share. I have a off topic question. Is it best to see a Optometrist for eye problems (itching, runny eyes) without an injury to the eye, or a Medical Doctor? Please advise. Also, please do a video explaining the difference in over the counter eye drops. Are they good to use?

[@bluesky7288]

Id say an ophthalmologist

[@MasterCoolio100]

Can you do one on visual snow can you do a video on visual snow

[@intuitiveeevee]

Can you do a video on convergence issues,a lot of autistic people and people with ehlers danlos (both syndromes can go hand in hand) have them ,but my optician didn't have a clue ,it caused a lot of problems when I was at photography college and I've always closed one eye when I read

[@siangfoung3005]

How degrees of this?

[@Maki-qw8he]

I have ocular hypertension, I also have some optic nerve damage. I'm a 22yr old guy, no family history of glaucoma related, my field vision is good, no macular degeneration or anything. I'm also on glaucoma drops. I have thick corneas as well. what's the likelihood of me getting glaucoma in the later years to come? Also I have brain damage from birth, also have a 3mm cyst in my left region in my brain (The region where its responsible for your sight, smell, touch etc) can that be also something related?

[@gravy1219]

i love hiking and if i walk towards a mountain in the distance it seems to move further away, i have a lazy eye and im short sighted in one eye and long sighted in the other, why does this happen?

[@ububububububububub1667]

what would an eye look like if it had no fluid in it or if it was all the way dried out, i've been wondering that for a long time, do you know?

[@yaqxs]

I somewhere read years ago that high grade myopia/hyperopia also be a indicator for a higher risk of glaucoma (i can't really recall, but think it was because axial myopia/hyperopia makes the fluid drainage less optimal, esp. with myopia where the Schlemm's canal could become too narrow). Is that still considered to be scientific accurate?

[@r1r597]

What about people with very sensitive skin? Eg: allergic to nickel, or those allergic to all metal frames and even certain plastic ingredients? :/

[@siangfoung3005]

Can i ask you? OD 0.3 OS.0.25 R - 0.50and L - 0.25

[@Phixcer]

Just got my vision check by my local diagnostic optical center the results were 20/20 my vision was fine but I can see white dots they are very little and they are basically in my vision for almost 24/7 they didnt bother me at day time because they are not really affecting my vision but they are still their but at night time its not the case i can hardly see at night because of these small dots all over my vision its basically fogging up my vision at night because of these white dots and im experiencing sudden blackout in my vision for a sec like all of a sudden my visions turns black for a sec then goes back to normal with the white dots i dont know whats this called and my optical center says my vision was fine but i know theres something wrong with my vision any thoughts about this and what is this called i tried searching this up on the internet but i cant seem to find about these white dots and sudden random blackouts pls can you give me a brief comment to what is this or what should i do next to possibly treat this because i tried going to my nearest optical center or should go and visit my doctor as soon as possible?

[@marsthemartian5649]

Diagnosed in elementary school, 21 now and I get eye based migraines often. I should probably go see an eye doctor it’s been a couple years. My field of vision is shrinking and I’ve never been on eye drops either xc

[@bluesky7288]

DR, I have been tested and monitored for glaucoma for 12 years. My Dr always says I have huge optic nerves yet no loss of vision. She said the optic nerves have not changed or gotten worse over tge years. Im on eyedrops twice a day and my IOP is 18, but Dr tells me I have thin corneas, so pressure is actually higher. Am I still likely to develop vision loss if the optic nerves arent getting worse?

[@Maki-qw8he]

no but having thin corneas is a risk of getting glaucoma as well. I've got thick corneas, I have ocular hypertension and some optic nerve damage. All i have is I cant see well from like 10 feet away. I'm also on eye drops. What's weird tho is I'm in my early 20s, no family history of glaucoma either. Your vision only gets worse if pressure builds and builds thus resulting in optic nerve damage then its glaucoma.

[@keltongaskey]

Is it bad if one of my pupils is larger than the other?

[@buddyguy4723]

i dont know why i found the statement "the retina is an extension of the brain" a new and profound statement but i did

[@fashionsolidtshirts5104]

i am 14 and my right eye is perfect but left eye is slightly dull and unclear. my optmo says i dont have any power . But my left eye vision varies day by day, sometimes its almost as right eye , sometimes its very unclear. What is the problem?

[@pataoyang4563]

My doctors were worried I might have glaucoma because the pressures in my eyes were high. However, after several tests, they were still unable to determine if I had it because I was told my optic nerves goes into my eyes at an angle, not straight into it, so it makes everything completely different. So, I use eye drops to decrease the pressure, but I'm still not sure if I actually have it or not. Also, not yet 40. XD

[@tamaralee7455]

I was just diagnosed with glaucoma at 47. It feels like a death sentence. I am hoping the laser surgery helps.

[@Fireneedsair]

Can you explain how the optic disc relates to the optic nerve? My ophthalmologist says I have a large optic disc which means I must pay attention to the possibility of glaucoma

[@AntoniotheOptometrist]

The nerve is the entire cord connects the eye to the brain, optic disc is what we can see through the pupil (the head if you will). Almost the same thing in the grand scheme of things.

[@Fireneedsair]

@@AntoniotheOptometrist thank you! Love the videos

[@BrianMcInnis87]

9:47 Wait, so what's usually the actual cause of the problem? Something going wrong with the ciliary body, or the trabecular meshwork?

[@CescoEva]

it depends, could be both

[@PowerPunch360]

I'm a bit confused. You said that a large number of people develop glaucoma without elevated intraocular pressure, but the treatments you mentioned all focus on lowering intraocular pressure. How are those individuals treated then?

[@AntoniotheOptometrist]

Good question, IOP is still considered to be a major risk factor, and I guess it is the best treatment available at this moment in time with proven results.

[@yaqxs]

@@AntoniotheOptometrist I once had a customer with a low IOP glaucoma, meaning that her IOP at around 14mmHg was too high and caused glaucoma, and she had a surgery to lower her IOP to like 7-9 mmHg and it stopped the disease's progression, but that's a very rare condition I guess.

[@bubba283]

@@AntoniotheOptometrist I just started Zoloft last night, I read where it can cause angle glaucoma, how common or rare is it for Zoloft to cause that?

[@millz5403]

Can we learn about cataracts from birth? I kinda want to understand why my lens was removed. My eye is permanently grey…

[@melio_ghost]

I’m a visual field technician and we get quite a lot of glaucoma patients, this video was really interesting!

[@EvilNeuro]

Psst do u get rp patients?

[@melio_ghost]

@@EvilNeuro I’ve only seen one personally but we do get them

[@EvilNeuro]

@@melio_ghost ooh! I have it lol

[@Davoin]

Could you do a video about Visual Snow Syndrome? It's a rare condition that I suffer from, and it would be really nice if more people were aware of it!

[@imissjesus]

to the young people here: i had a glaucoma attack at 25. Im lucky i got medication and it dosn't get any worse, but my grandma lost her eyesight in her twenties. So please take care of yourself and visit a doctor for check-ups.

[@sophianicole513]

last time I went to my optometrist I was told I was at a higher risk of glaucoma because I have a thicker optic nerve

[@qinyuan2068]

cool

[@MarcelaElviraTimis]

4:58 good luck using those if you have nistagmus....

[@zephyrdrake_]

Weird question maybe, but could you do a video about Bradyopsia. It's a rare genetic conditions and I'd like to show people what the world looks like to me. Like you did in this video.

[@TheBiggestMoronYouKnow]

i like the advice these channels give on youtube, but holy shi- it's sad af people have to deal with these things

[@Titanette]

Hi Doc, why are you so handsome?

[@gotyoumad6828]

Thought it was glue coma😂😂

[@BrianMcInnis87]

7:43 Caucasia is part of Asia. Its people - Caucasians - are of many ethnicities, but largely Turkic. There was briefly a hypothesis (well over a century ago, if memory serves) that the people who came to populate Europe originally came from Caucasia, and on that basis the scientists involved dubbed white people 'Caucasoid' (certainly not 'CaucasIAN', since that would only apply to people born in Caucasia; I don't know where that misnomer came from). But the hypothesis was disproved in fairly short order, so it's like calling aboriginal Americans 'Indians' on the basis that there was briefly a hypothesis that America was India. Also, please marry me.