Show Hitting Thirties Forties Watch For Glaucoma a u Signs I B By Rembert Benjamin MD 1 I This article will prove of interest interest in in- I terest crest to all readers in their late thirties and early forties and this has no connection with the many remarks or jokes made about the changes occurring occurring occurring occur occur- ring in people in this age group GLAUCOMA is the subject for discussion this being a condition affecting the eyes in such a way that the internal pressure within the eyeball in increases increases increases in- in creases and brings about visual changes which can can result in blindness This disorder causes one seventh of all the blindness in the United States and is found in one person in 50 more than 40 years of age aee Glaucoma is divided into two types referred to as primary and secondary glaucoma Secondary Secondary Secondary Sec Sec- glaucoma usually follows follows follows fol fol- lows known conditions of the eyes such as acute inflammation tion or injuries whereas primary primary mary glaucoma denotes J the cause to be unknown PRIMARY glaucoma is the type all persons in the 40 year age group should be aware of One type of primary glaucoma usually arises as an acute condition con con- condition resulting in pain near the eye sometimes seve r e nausea and vomiting poor visual visual vis vis- ual acuity dilated pupils and the appearance of rainbow colors colors col col- col ors or halos around lights The diagnosis of or this type of glaucoma glaucoma glau coma is fairly easy to make by your physician but at times may be confused w with th sinusitis or an acute abdomen A second type of primary glaucoma referred to as an open-angle open glaucoma has an insidious onset which causes no acute changes and can progress progress progress pro pro- gress to the point of oC near blindness blindness blindness blind blind- ness before beCore correct diagnosis is made This type of glaucoma is more common and far more difficult to suspect for jn in the early stages there is no pain and the above described eye changes do not occur to make one think of an an eye LUCKILY glaucoma c can n b be e easily detected early by a simpie simple simple sim sim- pie office test lest measuring the pressure r I I |