Eyes

The eye is one of the most complicated and amazing organs in the human body. It is the most sensitive of all our five senses.

One disease that affects the eye is glaucoma.

A little insight into Glaucoma…• Glaucoma is a group of

diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve. A person’s field of vision is narrowed and blindness can occur.

• The optic nerve carries information from the eye

to the brain.

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Glaucoma is caused by high pressure

inside the eye because fluid does not drain

This pressure keeps the optic nerve from doing

its job: carry information from the

eye to the brain.

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6.7 million people around the world are blind because of glaucoma.

stages of glaucoma CH

Risk Factors which may lead to Glaucoma

• High eye pressure from build up of fluid• Family history of glaucoma• Age 40 and older • African Americans are 15 times more likely to go

blind from glaucoma• Thin cornea• High Myopia (Very severe nearsightedness)• Diabetes• Eye surgery/Injury

Medicated eye drops are the first choice and are usually very effective in preventing eye damage. The drops reduce elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) which damages the optic nerve.Based on a person’s health , they may not be able to use glaucoma eye drops because medicine placed in the eye is absorbed into the blood vessels on the eye's surface. Some of the medicine enters the bloodstream and affects heart rate and breathing.

To treat Glaucoma…

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Doctors perform traditional surgery and cut a drainage hole in the eye to relieve pressure.

Laser surgery can also be used.

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Scientists are researching stem cellsto find out if they can be used to treat glaucoma.

In rare cases, Marijuana can help relieve glaucoma.

To treat Glaucoma…

ALL

Improve on the use of eye drops since they are the most effective way to treat glaucoma…

Many ideas:Bionic eyeContact

Embed contact lenses with medicine which reduces pressure in the eye so the optic

nerve is not damaged!

Our Innovative Solution…

Robert D. Fechtner, MD

Professor and Director of the Glaucoma Division of UMDNJ- New Jersey Medical SchoolNewark, New Jersey

TR

Interesting Facts

Famous people who have lived with impaired sight:• Harriett Tubman• Helen Keller• Stevie Wonder• Franklin Roosevelt• Claude Monet• Galileo CH

- 3.3 million of Americans could have glaucoma by the year 2020-Leading cause of blindness in U. S.

What is worse than having no sight is being able to see, but having no vision.

-Helen Keller

Hey Guys, I can’t see you…my

glaucoma is bad today!

http://www.agingeye.net/glaucoma/glaucomadrugtreatment.php

Our Sources:Google images

http://www.ahaf.org/glaucoma/aboout/

http://www.ahaf.org/glaucoma/aboout/risk

http://www.disabled-world.com/aartman/publish/famous-blind.shtml

www.mayoclinic.org

www.nih.gov