December 21, 2004
Intraocular Pressure
LEADERONIA-Medical examination of the eyes of the Great Leader
revealed high levels of intraocular pressure which could lead to
Glaucoma therefore blindness, MD N. Klein said yesterday in a press
conference in the main hall of the Department of Sight.
The Great Leader was invited by MD N.Klein, to have scientific photos
of both eyes taken and be submited to him withing four months.
In a later cabinet meeting, the MINOFFISCADIS suggested the
Great Leader to use medical herbal remedy, currently illegal in the
Host Country of Leaderonia, namely Cannabis.
From the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine:
In 1971, during a systematic investigation of its effects in healthy
marijuana users, it was observed that cannabis reduces intraocular
pressure. In the following 12 years a number of studies in healthy
individuals and glaucoma patients with marijuana and several natural
and synthetic cannabinoids were conducted. Marijuana decreases
intraocular pressure by an average 25-30%, occasionally up to 50%.
Some non-psychotropic cannabinoids, and to a lesser extent, some
non-cannabinoid constituents of the hemp plant also decrease
intraocular pressure.
In most cases of glaucoma, the fluid that bathes the eye does
not drain properly and leads to increased pressure.
Some scientists believe that a defective protein produced by one
of the mutated glaucoma genes can trigger this heightened pressure
by clogging an area, known as the trabecular meshwork, that guards
the fluid's escape route.
Illustration by Lydia Kibiuk, Copyright © 1998 Lydia Kibiuk.
Glaucoma is a disease where internal pressure builds up inside the eye. It is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. It is poorly understood and difficult to diagnose.
To understand glaucoma, one must understand fluid mechanics of they eye. The eyeball, or globe, has an internal pressure to keep it spherically shaped. The fluid inside the eye is responsible for the intraocular pressure or "IOP." Eye pressure is generally independent of blood pressure.
Eye fluid constantly replenishes itself. The fluid is produced internally. Excess fluid is drained via channels near the iris.
Eye pressure becomes excessively high when too much fluid is produced, or the drainage canals become blocked. High eye pressure can physically compress the optic nerve or interrupt blood flow feeding the nerve. In either case, the end result is nerve damage. This causes vision loss.
Glaucoma causes peripheral vision loss at first leading to "tunnel vision." Central vision is lost in severe glaucoma.
Diagnosing glaucoma is difficult because it takes several years for damage to be noticed even to the highly trained. However, there are exceptions depending on the type of glaucoma.
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, is the most common type. It is associated with age (usually over 65) and heredity. It is usually very slow in onset and progression.
Traumatic Glaucoma occurs when and injury to the eye makes the optic nerve more susceptible to small changes in IOP, and alters the structure of the drainage system. Traumatic glaucoma can show up many years after a significant injury.
Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma is relatively rare. It can be due to iris dilation and blocking the drainage canals. This leads to a rapid increase in pressure, and sudden vision loss if not treated quickly. It occurs most commonly in the elderly.
Sometimes people have high eye pressure without glaucoma. This is called Ocular Hypertension. Ocular hypertensives are labeled as glaucoma suspects. It is not understood why some people with high eye pressure develop nerve damage while others never do. There is currently a 10 year study in progress to determine if ocular hypertensives need to be treated preventively for glaucoma.
Heredity is also a major factor in glaucoma. Both ocular hypertension and most types of glaucoma run strongly in families, especially in siblings. And African Americans are also more at risk for glaucoma than other groups.
Three things need to be present to diagnose glaucoma. First is a suspicious looking optic nerve. There are certain characteristics of a glaucoma nerve that are apparent to the trained eye. Second is a documentable, and repeatable loss of vision. Third, although not always, is an above normal eye pressure.
Sometimes glaucoma can occur in an eye without high pressure. This is called Normal Tension Glaucoma.
It is very important that people diagnosed with glaucoma, ocular hypertension, glaucoma suspects, people who have family members or history of glaucoma or African Americans get their eyes checked every year. These groups are at much higher risk for glaucoma than other people. The best way to treat glaucoma is to catch it early.
Glaucoma is a preventable cause of blindness, as there are lots of medications used to lower the eye pressure. Eye drops known as "beta-blockers" are most commonly used. However, many different drugs are available that target different aspects of the fluid mechanics. Because these drops must be used for the rest of the patient's life, and can have some undesirable side effects, it is absolutely necessary to be sure someone has glaucoma before treating it.
There are also effective surgical options of glaucoma. A laser can open the drainage system or filtering procedures can be performed. This is reserved for severe glaucoma, or in cases where medications do not adequately control the pressure.