Glaucoma is a serious health issue that affect the eyes. It is the eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve that usually carries information from the eye to the brain is placed in the back of the eye. Any damage to it can result in loosing the vision.

As the first step, the person affected by the glaucoma will loose the side (peripheral) vision. But if it is not cured at the right time, it may get serious and could even result in the loosing the vision of both eyes leading to total blindness over time.

Glaucoma exists in three types:

Open-angle glaucoma is on of the most common form found in the United States. In open-angle glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged bit by bit, slowly leading to the loss of eyesight. One eye may get affected more than the other and most probably, the eyesight may be lost even before you notice it.

Closed-angle glaucoma is not much common. About 10% of all glaucoma cases in the United States are closed-angle, in which, the coloured part of the eye (iris) and the lens block movement of fluid between the chambers of your eye causing pressure to build up and the iris to press on the drainage system of the eye. A related type is sudden (acute) closed-angle glaucoma, which is often an emergency. This requires medical care right away to prevent permanent damage of the eye.

Congenital glaucoma is a rare form that some infants have at birth. Finding and treating glaucoma early is important to prevent blindness.

The glaucoma risk rises after age 40 and even more quickly after age 70. The risk factors are more if you have diabetes or if a close family member has had glaucoma. Thorough check ups from time to time is a must in this case.

Tags: Health, eyes, diabetes, Blindness, vision, family, glaucoma, affect, Closed-angle glaucoma, United States, congenital glaucoma

If to undergo a laser surgery for nearsightedness should be decided after the evaluation of the risks and benefits and on your personal preference. As the first step, let us look at the topic in a detailed manner.
Laser surgery to correct nearsightedness is an elective procedure, where there is no medical reason to have this surgery. Nearsightedness never threatens your vision or health. The decision on a laser surgery must be after considering the benefits and risks of surgery.

The laser surgery does not guarantee that you could have a full vision without glasses or contact lenses. Even if surgery fully corrects your nearsightedness, it does not change the normal aging process of the eye.  This means, even after surgery, you may need reading glasses after age 40.

Laser surgery a very safe procedure, but it is not fully risk-free. The complications are not serious, but be bothersome. Vision-threatening complications are rare.
The cost of laser surgery does vary on the basis of locations, but it is generally an expensive method.

Laser surgery for nearsightedness corrects nearsightedness by using a laser to change the shape of the cornea. It allows someone who is nearsighted to see clearly without corrective lenses.  The surgical procedures to correct nearsightedness cause permanent changes in the eye and are an expensive process. They cannot be reversed.

Before undergoing the surgery, your eyes will be checked by an ophthalmologist who will determine if you are a candidate for the surgery. Laser surgery will not be held if, the vision has not been stable for at least a year or is possessed by a disease or abnormality of the cornea, like keratitis, corneal edema, or thinning of the cornea.
Regular astigmatism and uncontrolled autoimmune or connective tissue disease also prevents from undergoing laser surgery. Anyone below the age of 18 also cannot undergo laser surgery.

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