October 22nd, 2013

10/22/2013

 
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Dr. Andrew Calman is an ophthalmologist based in San Francisco, California. He has a diverse, multilingual practice, and often speaks three or four languages daily in order to communicate with his patients. One of the most common problems he sees in his practice is glaucoma, the silent thief of sight.

Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve and can lead to blindness if the patient does not receive treatment. Early detection and various therapies can preserve the patient's sight. When the eye’s trabecular meshwork becomes inefficient and does not allow fluid to drain, intraocular pressure increases. Glaucoma is characterized by a build-up of this aqueous fluid pressure; over time, the optic nerves suffer damage.

There are several different types of glaucoma; the most prevalent is primary open-angle. Open-angle glaucoma presents few symptoms early on, but as the disease progresses, blank spots can interfere with the patient's vision as the optic nerve becomes compromised.


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