Q: MY DOCTOR RECENTLY DIAGNOSED ME WITH GLAUCOMA. WHAT IS IT?
A: Glaucoma is a group of diseases that occur when the drainage system in the eye doesn’t work properly. Fluid then builds up in the eye and damages the optic nerve. Many people with glaucoma don’t feel any pain or notice early signs of vision loss. It’s the leading cause of preventable blindness in the U.S.
Q: MY GRANDMOTHER HAS GLAUCOMA. AM I AT RISK?
A: Yes. Family history is a major risk factor for glaucoma. In addition, people are more likely to develop glaucoma as they age, and African-Americans and Hispanics have a greater risk than Caucasians. We recommend yearly glaucoma screenings beginning at age 40 for those at high risk for glaucoma, and screenings every two years for people older than age 6
Q: HOW WILL MY DOCTOR KNOW IF I HAVE GLAUCOMA?
A: Your eye doctor will use a special instrument to measure the pressure in your eye, examine your optic nerve to see if there are any signs of damage and map your vision to see if you’re experiencing vision loss.
Q: WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR GLAUCOMA?
A: Your doctor may recommend eyedrops or medications that relieve pressure on the optic nerve or laser surgery to improve drainage in the eye. If your condition is advanced, your ophthalmologist may perform microsurgery to create a new drainage pathway in the eye.
Q: CAN GLAUCOMA TREATMENTS HELP ME REGAIN MY VISION?
A:No. Any damage already done
to the optic nerve is permanent. But
early diagnosis and treatment can help
preserve your vision and help prevent
additional vision loss. 
Assumpta Madu, MD, MBA, PharmD, CPE, is a board certified
ophthalmologist and director of Clinical
Operations for the Department of
Ophthalmology at Montefiore. She is
also director of the Residency Program
and an assistant professor of
Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at
Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
After graduating from Einstein,
Dr. Madu completed her residency at
Montefiore and a glaucoma fellowship
at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Dr. Madu was already a pharmacist when she decided to attend medical school. “I wanted to be more directly involved in patient care,” she says. “In ophthalmology, we take care of patients of all ages, from babies to older adults, and can intervene both medically and surgically to change the course of patients’ diseases.”
Save Your Vision with
Glaucoma Screenings 
The articles in this publication are from Montefiore Medical Center’s publication Keeping You Healthy and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations to any individual or group.
This publication is for information purposes only.