Patients with glaucoma suffer permanent damage to the optic nerve of the affected eye. The illness is commonly, but not always, associated with increased pressure in the eye and can progress to a complete lack of vision if left untreated. Elevated pressure in the eye without damage to the optic nerve is referred to as ocular hypertension and is a strong warning sign that a patient is at risk for glaucoma.

Multiple subtypes of the illness are recognised. All types are considered to be an optic neuropathy, and all involve a characteristic pattern of retinal ganglion loss. These subtypes are distributed into two broad categories.

Open angle glaucoma is a chronic illness that progresses at a much slower rate than its angle-closure counterpart. Angle-closure glaucoma has a very sudden onset and is often accompanied by pain in the eye. Open angle glaucoma does not usually express with pain, and it progresses so gradually that, without undergoing an eye exam, patients frequently do not realize that they have suffered a loss of vision until the illness is in advanced stages.

Vision lost to advanced glaucoma cannot be recovered by current treatment options. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness on a worldwide scale, and is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans. Medical intervention can halt the progression of the illness if it is detected in its early stages.

Researchers believe that diabetes and hypertension significantly increase the risk for developing open angle glaucoma. This form of the illness accounts for approximately 90% of all glaucoma cases in the US, and the only signs of the illness are a gradual loss of vision and changes in the cup-to-disc ratio of the optic nerve.

Ocular hypertension is the largest risk factor, but the illness often expresses without any increased pressure in the eye. A statistical analysis of two million patients enrolled in a managed care network indicates that patients with hypertension alone are 17% more likely to develop open angle glaucoma. Patients with diabetes alone appear to be 35% more likely to develop the illness. Patients with both conditions appear to be 48% more likely to develop open angle glaucoma.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Records used in the study covered the period of 2001 to 2007 and included only patients 40 years of age or older. The results indicate the importance of diabetic and hypertension management as well as the need for regular eye examinations.

Les writes about laser eye surgery for Personal Eyes where you can find out more about eye procedures to suit your lifestyle.

There are people who love to work with people, and the health and medical world is a great place for compassionate people who want to help fellow people. Health Technologist Jobs, nurses, doctors, therapists and aides are just a few of the many health related jobs you can do!

You can even be a fitness trainer and nutritionist. I am actually looking for both right now! (trying to be healthier!)

Most foods we intake these days do not let us complete the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals necessary from our foods, even if we are consuming the suggested daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Due to current farming practices, mass food production, processing, and cooking, our foods are less nutrient dense than they were in previous years. In fact, The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that it takes seven cups of today’s spinach to equal the nutrition that a single cup provided in 1960. This is where the need for vitamins and supplements come in.

There are usana vitamins you can try. Usana specializes in four categories of products viz:
. Usana Nutritional (Essentials and Optimizers nutritional supplements)
. Usana Macro-Optimizer foods (drink mixes and nutritional bars)
. Sense Basics and Enhancers (face, hair, and skin care products)
. Rev3 Energy drinks

To give an example, here are some important facts about vitamin b2, otherwise called riboflavin.

1. Riboflavin works with other B-complex vitamins to give you energy.
2. It promotes healthy skin, vision and blood. Not getting enough of this vitamin can cause skin problems – making it greasy, scaly or dry which can lead to painful cracks and sores.
3. It is a water soluble vitamin – which means it gets secreted out together with water. This is why you need to make that you get the recommended amount of vitamin B2 each day (1.3mg for men, 1.1mg for women).

You would also need zinc supplements – especially if you are trying to conceive. Zinc is involved in a variety of metabolic activities. It is needed to heal injuries, it’s needed for the production of insulin, it’s involved in our ability to smell and taste, and it’s needed for proper growth and development. It’s also important for fertility and the immune system.
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