Glaucoma

Gina F. Gladstein, M.D.

• Director Department of Ophthalmology Greenwich Hospital
• Medical School: Albert Einstein
• Residency:Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital
• Fellowship: Glaucoma: Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian
• Board Certified: American Board of Ophthalmology

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an ocular disease normally associated with pressure inside the eye. This pressure is too high for the continued health of the optic nerve. The damage caused to the optic nerve progressively leads to impaired vision. Glaucoma doesn't display any outward symptoms. Most people don't know anything is wrong until they start to lose some of their sight.

The fluid inside the eye, called the aqueous humor, normally nourishes the structures inside the eye and is constantly replenished, but in a patient with glaucoma, it fails to drain normally, thus the intraocular pressure increases causing damage to the optic nerve.

Although there is no cure for glaucoma, with early diagnosis and treatment, the pressure inside the eye can usually be controlled and further vision loss either prevented or at least delayed.

Who is at risk?

There are certain groups of people who are at greater risk for developing the disease:

• Individuals over the age of 40
• African Americans
• People with diabetes
• Family history of glaucoma
• People who are nearsighted
• Patients who have had long-term steroid treatment
• Those who have had an eye injury
• People with high blood pressure

Even if you do not fall into any of these categories, you could still be at risk for developing the disease. Glaucoma can only be recognized through a comprehensive eye examination.

4 Dearfield Drive
Greenwich, CT 06831
Phone #: 203-869-3082  Fax: 203-869-6453
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