Glaucoma, The Thief of Sight Trivia Quiz

Answer: Greek

The writings of Hippocrates describe 'glaykoseis' as a blinding illness and this is commonly interpreted as being the first recognition of glaucoma, although it is likely that other eye problems were included. The causes were not understood and it was centuries before an Arabian named Al-Tabari correctly surmised the cause in the tenth century.

His hypothesis was not proven until the seventeenth century.

Answer: Germany

Born in 1828, von Graefe was well educated, having studied logic, anatomy and philosophy at the University of Berlin qualifying in medicine. He pursued his studies in Paris, London, Vienna and Prague before specialising in ophthalmology. One of his major achievements, and there were many, was the introduction of a treatment for glaucoma, the iridectomy - the removal of part of the iris.

Answer: Fluids draining too slowly from the anterior chamber

Called primary open angle glaucoma, the type of glaucoma which most often develops is caused when the channels through which fluids drain become clogged over a period of time. This leads to pressure building up in the eye and, if left untreated, will lead inevitably to blindness.

Rarer types of glaucoma are acute angle closure glaucoma, which is a sudden blockage of the drainage channels, secondary glaucoma, which results from other eye conditions and congenital glaucoma, which afflicts children.

Answer: Optic nerve

Unless treated, the lack of drainage leads to pressure building up in the eye which will then cause damage to the optic nerve. This is the nerve which transfers messages from the eyes to the brain and the damage will disrupt, and eventually prevent, the transmission of these.

Answer: Those over sixty

Glaucoma is primarily an age related condition which, in those of Caucasian ancestry, tends to mainly affect those aged sixty or more. For people with Caribbean, African or Asian heritage, the risks are higher and can impact at a younger age, from the forties upwards. Family history is also a risk factor as are some eye conditions and diabetes.

Answer: True

Glaucoma is often described as the silent thief of sight as there are so few obvious symptoms. Regular eye tests are vital, even for those who think their sight is perfect, Among the tests carried out by an optometrist is the visual field test which is designed to pick up missing areas of vision. If peripheral vision is affected, further tests will be carried out to establish the extent of damage.

Answer: A tonometer

Probably everyone's least favourite part of a general eye test, those bursts of air which cause you to blink in a reflex action are designed to measure the pressure in the eye. The alternative method described on the NHS website sounds much worse, though, involving painkilling eye drops and touching the eyeball.

The puff of air doesn't seem so bad after all, especially as we now know why it's performed.

Answer: Gonioscopy

Gonioscopy is specifically designed to check that the eye drainage system is functioning correctly. It involves a lens equipped with mirrors and a microscope called a slit lamp. The light from the slit lamp reflects from the mirrors meaning the optometrist can assess the drainage in each eye.

The other tests are also used by eye specialists - the visual acuity test is the familiar letter chart, retinal imaging concentrates on the back of the eye and ocular motility checks on eye movement.

Answer: Curable

There are virtually no symptoms until you begin to lose your sight. The condition is treatable but not curable. Treatment can slow the progression, but not undo the damage already caused. The common form of glaucoma is painless, although the rarer, sudden blockage, type may be painful. The sooner glaucoma is diagnosed the better, before too much damage is caused.

Answer: Eye drops

Eye drops are normally the first step taken. These are designed to reduce the pressure in the eye and must be continued for life. If eye drops don't work, laser treatment can be targeted at the channels to open them up and allow fluid to drain more easily, or reduce the amount of fluid produced.

Surgery is the final option, usually only undertaken when the other options have failed. An operation called a trabeculectomy removes some of the drainage tubes, enabling fluid to drain more easily from the remaining tubes..