Adjusting to Life with Glaucoma

The Griswold Solutions Series

TM

Adjusting
to Life with
Glaucoma
From Diagnosis to
Daily Challenges

© 2014 Griswold International, LLC

January is
National
Glaucoma
Awareness
Month

“January is
National Glaucoma
Awareness Month, an
important time to
spread the word about
this sight-stealing
disease.”
Glaucoma Research
Foundation


Our Goals for Today
• Learn about the symptoms, types and impact of Glaucoma
• Understand how to recognize, diagnose and treat Glaucoma
• Learn how to adjust to the emotional, physical, social and role
changes that often come with Glaucoma
• Access a Fighting Glaucoma Toolkit that offers innovative tools
and resources for clients and their family/professional caregivers


Presented by:
Thomas M. Brunner, BSEE, MBA

President and CEO, Glaucoma Research Foundation

Art Takahara, person living with glaucoma
President and Chief Executive Officer
De Anza Manufacturing, Inc.

Chris Kelly, MEd

Director of Learning & Development
Griswold Home Care


Thank you for your courage, energy, and dedication!
Healthcare Providers

Professional Caregivers

Family Caregivers

Person Living with Glaucoma


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BRAIN WRITING

Solutions

Brainwriting is…
• a fun, engaging way to brainstorm
• sharing as many ideas as possible within a short timeframe
Brainwriting Process
• Listen for our questions
• When prompted, enter your solutions using the webinar chat function
• Don’t overthink or agonize…There are no right or wrong answers
Brainwriting Outcomes
• Peer-to-peer learning and sharing
• A publication that benefits others who are living with glaucoma
Important
• Avoid sharing any information that you would not want others to see


About Glaucoma
“The Sight-Stealing Disease”

Learn About Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that:
• Damage the eye’s optic nerve
• Often has no symptoms until vision
loss is more severe
• Can be effectively treated if
diagnosed/treated early
• Affect people of all ages
(Risk increases after age 60)

Tools:

What is
Glaucoma

http://bit.ly/1acCKla

Overview of
Glaucoma

http://1.usa.gov/1euFtJf

How Glaucoma Affects the Eye
• A clear fluid flows in and out
of the anterior (front) chamber
of the eye to provide nutrients
to eye tissue
• Glaucoma can occur when
fluid passes too slowly or
is blocked (causing pressure
in the eye that damages the
optic nerve)

Tool:

Conjunctiva
Iris
Cornea
Angle or
trabecular
meshwork
(where fluid
should drain)
Ciliary body
(where fluid
is made)

Lens

Pressure

Optic Nerve

Glaucoma
Animation

http://bit.ly/1lFUiy8

Glaucoma Risk Factors
Being over
60 years old

Being of
African, Asian or
Hispanic descent

Having a
family history
of glaucoma

Being very
nearsighted

Having a thin
central cornea

Long-term
steroid use

Having conditions such
as heart disease, diabetes
and hypothyroidism

Tool:

Having high
blood pressure

Are You
At Risk?

http://bit.ly/1lFUiy8

Types of Glaucoma


Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
• Most common form, often without
symptoms until vision loss is severe
• Symptoms can include:
Gradual loss of peripheral
(side to side and up/down) vision,
usually in both eyes

Tunnel vision (seeing a very
small area directly in front)
- Lou Gehrig


Angle-Closure Glaucoma
• Symptoms can include:
Sudden, severe blurred
vision and pain
Eye and head pain
Nausea or vomiting

The appearance of
rainbow-colored circles
around bright lights
Sudden vision loss
Hazy vision

Often affects one
eye at a time

Other Types of Glaucoma
• Secondary Glaucoma

• Exfoliative Glaucoma

• Pigmentary Glaucoma

• Neovascular Glaucoma

• Normal-tension Glaucoma

• Uveitic Glaucoma

• Congenital Glaucoma

• Traumatic Glaucoma

Tool:

Types of
Glaucoma

http://bit.ly/1ktSRVg


Diagnosing
Glaucoma


Diagnosing Glaucoma
Since Glaucoma is often without symptoms, regular eye exams are
important for those at risk. An accurate diagnosis should be made by an
ophthalmologist and should include:
• History and physical exam

• An assessment of the impact of glaucoma on daily life
• Eye exam to assess the following:

- Pressure inside the eye (IOP)
- Ability to see the complete
field of vision (or “perimetry”)
- Thickness of the cornea

Tools:

- The appearance of the retina and
optic nerve

- Angle in the eye where the iris meets
the cornea (gonioscopy)

Five Common
Tests for
Glaucoma

Find an
Ophthalmologist

http://bit.ly/KKlpd5

http://bit.ly/1a7FaEJ

Treating Glaucoma


Treating Glaucoma
Early, effective treatment is critical! Glaucoma can be effectively treated through:

Medicine

Laser surgery

Support groups

Tools:

Mircrosurgery

Staying active

Adaptive
equipment

Eating healthy
foods

Low vision
rehabilitation

Non-medical
home care

AAO Practice
Guidelines

http://bit.ly/L8VRH7
http://bit.ly/1dtI9um

Your Eye Care Team
Ophthalmologist

MDs who diagnose and treat eye diseases along with…
• Ophthalmic Medical assistant
Perform tests and help the MD to examine/treat patients
• Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist
Assist the MD with complicated medical tests and minor
office surgery
• Ophthalmic Registered Nurse
Assist MD with injections and hospital/office surgery

Optometrist

ODs who provide regular vision care including prescribing corrective
glasses, contact lenses and glaucoma meds (in some states).

Optician

Design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses/frames/contact lenses and
other devices to correct eyesight.

Low Vision
Rehabilitation
Therapist

Helps clients/families to understand and adjust to the impact of
vision loss on work , educational performance, ADL and iADL
performance, use of technology, quality of life and aspects of
psychosocial and cognitive function.


Living with
Glaucoma
Fight Glaucoma Action Plan and Toolkit


“I’m one to try to
look at things positively
in the world, so I tell myself
I’m not going to let glaucoma
get in my way. And I will do things,
use visual aids, whatever I need to
do to continue to try to be as normal
as possible. Regardless if you have
low vision, you can get around and do
everything you were doing before.
Don’t think you have to slow
down or do less.”
Quote from person
with Glaucoma


Living with Glaucoma
Glaucoma can have a serious impact on a person’s quality of life.
Quality of life is most impacted when a person has problems with:

Reading and
seeing in detail

Darkness or
glare from
bright lights

Working

Fear of falling

Bumping
into things

Isolation due to
lack of mobility

Driving

Tools:
Tripping
over objects

Frequent steroid use

Quality of
Life Priorities

http://bit.ly/1lYeZCP

Cooking,
cleaning and
self care

Work, volunteerism
and socialization

Emotions such as
anxiety, depression,
fear and uncertainty

Fight Glaucoma Action Plan
• Maintain regular eye exams/office visits
• Know and keep track of your medicine/s
• Keep your eyes clean and safe

Wear protective eye gear when swimming or doing yardwork/contact sports

• Eat healthy foods
• Stay active
• Maintain healthy fluid/salt intake

Adjusting and Moving Forward
National Eye Institute

Adaptive Equipment/
Technology

Support Groups

http://1.usa.gov/L5XlRI

http://bit.ly/1eMhFB2

http://bit.ly/1m0fc8v

Advocacy

Books on Glaucoma

http://bit.ly/1hUWIc7

http://bit.ly/1exdRVX

Key Takeaways
In most cases Glaucoma has no
symptoms, so regular eye exams
are important
Glaucoma can lead to vision loss if not diagnosed and
treated early
Treatment, education, support, advocacy and adaptive
technology can help people with Glaucoma to maintain
their routine and quality of life

Open Q&A
1. Click to expand
if necessary
2. Type questions here


Glaucoma Research Foundation Mission:
!

!

To prevent vision loss from
glaucoma by investing in
innovative research, education,
and support with the ultimate goal
of finding a cure.
Glaucoma Research Foundation

1

Glaucoma Research Foundation Facts
Founded 1978 by Drs. Shaffer, Hoskins, Hetherington in
San Francisco
National Organization
Annual Budget $4 million
Net Assets $5 million
Staff of 7
Expense ratio: 85% Program, 15% Support
Charity Navigator, BBB, Guidestar listings

2

Our Founders:
Drs. John Hetherington, Robert N. Shaffer (1912-2007) and H. Dunbar Hoskins


3

Speeding the Cure through research
Individual Fellowships (40 Shaffer Fellows)
Shaffer Grants for Innovative Glaucoma Research (funding
for pilot projects)
Catalyst For a Cure collaborative research project
Catalyst Meetings including Glaucoma 360 – New
Horizons Forum

Catalyst For a Cure
Speeding the Cure
Unique in two ways
Collaboration vs. conventional insular academic research
model
Interdisciplinary – bringing together neuroscientists,
molecular biologists, biomedical imaging experts in addition to
ophthalmology

First team, launched in 2002 – due in part to their work,

glaucoma is now defined as a neurodegenerative disease like
Alzheimer s, Parkinson s, ALS and Huntington s

Second team, launched in 2012 – to identify new, specific

and sensitive biomarkers for glaucoma

5

Spreading the word through Education
GLEAMS newsletter
Understanding and Living with Glaucoma
Infomative brochures
Web site: www.glaucoma.org


6

www.glaucoma.org

1,000,000 unique visitors per year

Brought to you by:

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non-medical care options to assist your loved one.
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Adjusting to Life with Glaucoma

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