Eye Doctor, Dr. Almallah's Corner

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“Small Strokes Can Lead To Vision Loss”

A recent study involving people who have suffered mini-strokes called “silent cerebral infarcts” may suffer steady deterioration of their vision, which may help to explain normal tension glaucoma. The progressive loss of vision associated with glaucoma is caused by deterioration of the optic nerves, which is usually attributed to abnormally high intraocular pressure. However, some people with glaucoma have normal pressure of the fluid in their eyes (normal-tension glaucoma), which has long baffled ophthalmologists. This most recent finding of slow vision loss among 29.6 percent of people with normal-tension glaucoma and a history of a high incidence of silent cerebral infarcts (symptomless blockages of small brain arteries) may, at last, provide an explanation. If glaucoma is diagnosed and treated early, patients benefit in numerous ways, including prevention of vision loss.

P.S. In the United States, 15 to 25 percent of people suffering from open-angle glaucoma have normal-tension glaucoma.