ANSWER: Glaucoma, which is a group of serious eye disorders that damage the optic nerve, is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the developed world. Because it rarely causes symptoms in its early stages, regular eye exams that include checking for glaucoma are important. A variety of factors can raise your risk for glaucoma, including age and having a family history of the disease.

Your optic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers that goes from the back of your eyeball to your brain. It serves as the communication cable between the two, allowing you to see. In most cases of glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged by a rise in pressure within the eye. The elevated pressure usually is due to a blockage of the eye’s drainage channels, preventing fluid that is constantly produced in the eye to flow out of it. As the nerve deteriorates, blind spots develop in your vision. If left untreated, glaucoma leads to blindness.

In its early stages, glaucoma usually doesn’t have any symptoms. Typically, it is not until the late stages of the disease — after significant damage already has been done — that people who have glaucoma begin to notice eye problems, such as loss of peripheral vision. That’s why it’s crucial to get regular eye exams that include looking at the appearance of the optic nerve through a microscope, as well as a measure of the pressure within your eye. If your doctor suspects glaucoma, he or she may recommend other tests, too.

In general, a comprehensive eye exam is recommended once every two to four years for people 40 to 54 and every one to three years for those 55 to 64 ─ even if you have no problems with your eyes or vision. After 65, you should have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. Depending on your risk factors, these exams may need to be more or less frequent.

Two of the most significant risk factors for glaucoma are age and family history. People older than 60 develop glaucoma much more frequently than younger individuals. And the disease tends to run in families. If you have a close relative who’s been diagnosed with glaucoma, make sure your eye doctor is aware of that.

Other risk factors for glaucoma may include having high or low blood pressure, as well as other medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and hypothyroidism. However, in most people, glaucoma is not associated with other diseases. A severe eye injury can put you at risk for glaucoma, as can certain types of eye surgery and being nearsighted or farsighted.

Ethnic background also appears to impact a person’s risk of developing glaucoma. African-Americans who are older than 40 have a much higher risk for developing glaucoma than Caucasians. African-Americans also are more likely to suffer permanent blindness as a result of glaucoma. People of Asian descent also have an increased risk of developing certain types of glaucoma.

Most glaucomas cannot be prevented, but regular eye exams can catch this condition early. Although there’s no way to reverse damage that’s been done to the optic nerve, treatment to lower pressure in the eye can prevent or slow vision loss due to glaucoma. Review any possible risk factors you may have for glaucoma with your eye doctor. Based on that, he or she can recommend an exam schedule that’s right for you. — Dr. Arthur Sit, Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

The post Mayo Clinic Q and A: Glaucoma — are you at risk? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. The thyroid makes hormones to help control the rate of many activities in your body, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. But, sometimes, problems develop with the thyroid gland, and it doesn’t secrete the right level of hormones. January is Thyroid Disease Awareness Month. On the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast, endocrinologist Dr. John C. Morris III discusses diagnosis and treatment of thyroid conditions, such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease and thyroid cancer. Also on the program, ophthalmologist Dr. Arthur Sit  explains the importance of regular eye exams to prevent glaucoma. And high-risk pregnancy certified nurse practitioner Deb Miller shares steps women can take to help prevent birth defects.

The post #MayoClinicRadio Podcast: 1/21/17 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Listen to the program on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 9:05 a.m. CST, and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Thyroid Disease Awareness Month appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Listen to the program on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 9:05 a.m. CST.

Miss the show?  Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Thyroid disease / glaucoma / birth defects appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Jenny lost her vision in 1976, after having a severe reaction to antibiotics. "I developed toxic epidermal necrolysis, and lost 100 percent of my skin, my hair and fingernails," says Jenny, a resident of Vermillion, South Dakota. She was just 23 at the time. Her children, just 2 and 5.

The antibiotics were meant to treat a sore throat. But her reaction was life-threatening. It caused Jenny's skin and mucous membranes to blister and peel. It also caused scarring in both of her eyes. She walked out of the hospital after 96 days, alive but functionally blind. "I could see shapes and light, but that was about it," she says. "I could walk around my own home, but I couldn't drive. I couldn't read. I couldn't see my children clearly." 

Though she'd lost a great deal, Jenny says also she gained something during her illness: faith and purpose. That purpose, as Jenny sees it, is to share her faith and spread hope. It's a feeling she knows something about, having remained hopeful for decades that her sight would return. "For years I would say, 'When I see again,'" says Jenny. There was no "if."

In 2010, her sight finally did return.

Waiting for a miracle

In the years after losing her vision, Jenny met with countless doctors. She had 14 surgeries, including two corneal transplants that temporarily restored her sight. "I got to see my kids again, and was able to see my grandson, Connor," she says.

But those glimpses were fleeting, as Jenny's body rejected both transplants after little more than a week, leaving her sightless again.

In 2009, Jenny learned she had melanoma in her left eye. The diagnosis would prove to be a blessing, as it led Jenny to Mayo Clinic, where a team of providers would work together to not only treat her cancer but also restore her sight.

During initial examinations to confirm the cancer diagnosis, doctors discovered Jenny had glaucoma in her right eye. When Keith Baratz, M.D., Ophthalmology, explained how he would treat the condition, he told Jenny he could also implant an artificial cornea, a procedure known as a keratoprosthesis or "KPro." That would give Jenny another shot at sight — but she wasn't sure she was ready to take it.

"I didn't want to go through another rejection," she says. Dr. Baratz encouraged her to reconsider, explaining recent improvements in treatment that made rejection much less common. Then, he left the decision where it belonged: in Jenny's hands.

"I went home and started praying," says Jenny. She also listened to Bible stories on tape. "The first story I heard was the parable of the blind man." Jenny felt that God was speaking to her through the story. "After hearing that, I called Dr. Baratz and told him I wanted to have the implant put in," she says.

On the day of surgery, ophthalmologist George Bartley, M.D., removed Jenny's cancerous left eye and replaced it with a prosthetic eye. Then, Dr. Baratz and Arthur Sit, M.D., a glaucoma specialist, began repairing her right eye. First, they removed scar tissue, then removed Jenny's damaged cornea. Next, they placed a valve to reduce the pressure that was causing her glaucoma. Finally, they removed a cataract and implanted the artificial cornea.

Dr. Baratz had told Jenny that it might take as long as 10 days to know whether the operation was a success. But the day after surgery, when Dr. Baratz removed the bandages from Jenny's eye, she discovered she wouldn't have to wait.

"I saw yellow stripes on his tie," says Jenny. "I was in tears. Then I saw his hand reaching out for mine. It was a miracle."

Everyday blessings

Since that day, Jenny has continued to see miracles. First among them: seeing her namesake granddaughter, Jenna, for the first time. She says watching Jenna and her grandson, Connor, grow up is a chance to see some of what she missed during her own children's youth.

Today, Jenny continues to rejoice in the ordinary beauty that was hidden from her for so many years: the vibrant yellow of an egg yolk, the soft green of new buds on trees.

"To see the buds coming on the trees, it's just amazing," she says. "I can see more than I ever dared hope for. They are working miracles at Mayo Clinic."

That's part of the message she wants to share with the world through a book she's written, "She Walked by Faith, Not by Sight," and through speaking engagements.

"I tell everyone who has something wrong with their health, if they aren't getting an answer, go to Mayo," she says. "If there's a fix, Mayo will find it."

And they'll do so with kindness and compassion, she says. "The people at Mayo put themselves in their patients' shoes," Jenny says. "Their hearts are involved with their patients. My doctors really wanted me to have sight. I think they are like that with all their patients. They do the best they can for everyone."

Jenny continues to return to Mayo Clinic for checkups every three to four months, and will need to have her implant replaced every three to five years. With so many appointments, she says she and her care team are now "like family."

"We usually leave each other smiling," she says. And that's another sight she loves to see.

You can learn more about Jenny's story by visiting her website, shewalkedbyfaith.com. 

HELPFUL LINKS

• Learn more about glaucoma and corneal transplants.
• Explore Mayo Clinic's Department of Ophthalmology.
• Join a discussion about eye conditions on Mayo Clinic Connect.
• Request an appointment.

The post Walking by Faith, and Now by Sight appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

#Glaucoma Twitterchat TODAY at #ABCDrBchat 1-2  p.m. ET 

@ArthurSitMD @NatEyeInstitute will join ABC’s Dr. Richard Besser

Glaucoma is a challenge for Baby Boomers, but how early in life can glaucoma appear? The answer may surprise you. Mayo Clinic expert Arthur Sit, M.D., is a nationally regarded ophthalmologist and researcher on glaucoma, and he'll join the chat along with experts from the NEI National Eye Health Education Program. Click here to learn more about Dr. Sit’s research.

Read more about symptoms of glaucoma.

The post How to Save Your Sight – Treat Glaucoma – Live with Declining Vision appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: 

ANSWER: You are correct that a family history of glaucoma raises the risk of developing this serious eye disease. It is currently not clear if lifestyle changes can decrease your risk of glaucoma, so it is crucial that you get eye exams on a regular basis. A comprehensive eye exam can help detect glaucoma in its early stages when it is most successfully treated.

Glaucoma is a disorder that damages the optic nerve. In its advanced stages, it can impair vision and eventually lead to blindness. In most cases of glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged by a rise in pressure within the eye due to a buildup of the fluid that flows in and out of the eye.

In addition to having a family history of glaucoma, risk factors for the disease may include high or low blood pressure, as well as other medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and hypothyroidism. Other eye problems may increase your risk of developing glaucoma as well, including eye inflammation, retinal detachment and lens dislocation. A severe eye injury can put you at risk for glaucoma, as can certain types of eye surgery and being nearsighted or farsighted.

Ethnic background also appears to have an impact on a person’s risk of developing glaucoma. African-Americans and Latinos who are older than 40 have a much higher risk of developing glaucoma than Caucasians. African-Americans also are more likely to suffer permanent blindness as a result of glaucoma. People of some Asian backgrounds have an increased risk of developing glaucoma, as well.

Prompt treatment of eye problems and good management of other underlying medical conditions may help reduce the risk of developing glaucoma. Some research suggests that eating a healthy diet may reduce your glaucoma risk, too.

Certain dietary supplements touted as promoting eye health claim to be able to prevent glaucoma. But at this time, there is no solid evidence that these products — often marketed as “eye vitamins” — can prevent, manage or treat glaucoma.

In its early stages, glaucoma usually doesn’t show any symptoms. Typically it is not until the late stages of the disease that people who have glaucoma begin to notice eye problems such as loss of peripheral vision. That’s why it is so important to get regular eye exams, particularly if you are at high risk for developing glaucoma.

In general, a comprehensive eye exam is recommended once every two to four years for people between the ages of 40 and 54, and every one to three years for people between the ages of 55 and 64, even if you have no problems with your eyes or your vision. After age 65, you should have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. Depending on your risk factors, these exams may need to be more frequent.

If an exam shows that your internal eye pressure is higher than normal, that means you are at increased risk of developing glaucoma. It is important to note, however, that not everyone with elevated intraocular pressure develops the disease, and not everyone who has glaucoma has increased eye pressure. If you have elevated eye pressure and your eye doctor indicates that you have a high risk of developing glaucoma, eye drops may be prescribed to reduce the risk that your condition will progress to glaucoma.

In a situation like yours where family history or other factors put you at higher risk for glaucoma, the key to ensuring long-term eye health is to get regular eye exams. Talk to your doctor about the exam schedule that best fits your needs. — Arthur Sit, M.D., Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

The post TUESDAY Q & A: Comprehensive eye exam can help detect glaucoma in early stages appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Jan. 21 — A comparative long-range study by Mayo Clinic ophthalmology researchers shows that the probability of blindness from glaucoma 20 years after diagnosis has dropped by half in the last generation. The findings appear online in the “in press” section of the journal Ophthalmology.

Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Sit are available in the downloads.

The researchers examined the medical records of all residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, age 40 or above, diagnosed with glaucoma between 1981 and 2000. They compared this with similar data from a previous study of patients diagnosed between 1965 and 1980, using the same resource, the repositories of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. The findings: While the incidence of glaucoma in the population has not changed, the probability of going blind in at least one eye due to glaucoma dropped by half, from 25.8 percent in the earlier study, to 13.5 percent in the later period. As well, the annual incidence of glaucoma-caused blindness in the population has dropped by more than half.

“This is a testament to the skill and effort of the researchers, physicians and other care providers working in eye care over that period,” says Arthur Sit, M.D., Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist and senior author of the study. “Our improved understanding of glaucoma, along with better treatment and management of patients seem to have had this impact. Still, much research and public education remains to be performed. A 14 percent blindness rate from a common eye disease is hardly ideal.”

Dr. Sit discounted early diagnosis as a factor in the dramatic shift, noting that the age of first diagnosis for glaucoma patients has not changed. The study also has its limitations. While it reflects virtually every case of glaucoma in the study county, the population over the period was roughly 90 percent white and does not necessarily reflect more diverse communities.

There is no early warning sign of glaucoma, other than loss of peripheral vision, which most people fail to notice. Dr. Sit urges regular eye appointments as the best way to diagnose the condition.

The study was supported by Mayo Clinic, grants from Research to Prevent Blindness, and the National Institutes of Health, which funds the Rochester Epidemiology Project.

Co-authors on the study include Mehrdad Malihi, M.D., Edney Moura Filho, M.D, and David Hodge, all of Mayo Clinic.

About Mayo Clinic
Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150years.mayoclinic.org, www.mayoclinic.org and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:  Bob Nellis, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic Research Finds Risk of Glaucoma Blindness Drops by Half appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.