Glaucoma by

What Is Glaucoma?

Laci_W — 2023-12-07 23:46:16 UTC

Glaucoma is normally found in older people but can be found in children from as early as birth. Glaucoma found in children 3 and under is called infantile or congenital glaucoma. Glaucoma is when the fluid in the eyes builds up instead of flowing out, causing immense pressure within the eyes. This causes damage to the optic nerve and furthermore the eyesight of the individual with glaucoma.

Characteristics

Laci_W — 2023-12-07 23:56:58 UTC

Luckily, early childhood glaucoma is easy for doctors to recognize and diagnose. Watery/tearful eyes, frequent blinking, bulging eyes, sensitivity to light and a cloudy outer layer or cornea on the eye are some of the most common or noticeable symptoms. If the pressure in the eye increases rapidly the child may end up with a loss of appetite, moderate pain and irritability. Unfortunately, as children get older, they may develop glaucoma asymptomatically. That's one of many reasons children should have annual eye exams as early as age one. Doctors can catch it fairly easily through tests done during the exam.

Causes

Laci_W — 2023-12-08 00:02:10 UTC

A fluid in the eye called "aqueous humor" builds up in the eye due to either too much being produced or never draining out. The aqueous humor is supposed to drain out of a tissue in the back of the cornea called the "trabecular meshwork", but it does not always function as need be. This causes pressure to build up in the eye, damaging the optic nerve and reducing vision. Children can be either born with glaucoma or may develop it due to a brain injury.

Treatment and Classroom Management

Laci_W — 2023-12-08 00:12:17 UTC

The treatment for children versus adults with glaucoma vary for the fact that some treatments are not as effective or safe for children. Medication may be used to treat this condition; however, adults can remain on the medication indefinitely while children should be on it for the least amount of time possible before surgery. A child may receive a trabeculotomy, removing a part of the trabecular meshwork and supporting structures to better drain the eye. More commonly for pediatric patients suffering from glaucoma is a goniotomy, where a small hole is made in the meshwork for drainage. Teaching a child with this condition would be a learning curve for the teacher for sure. Assistive devices such as text to speech on assignments, more test time would be needed since they would need more time to hear the question rather than see it. A student with this condition would teach classmates empathy, assisting the student by perhaps being quieter so they can hear better. This would also be great for team building, relying on everyone to work together to help each other out. This child's disability is just like any other, they may have strengths in subject and weaknesses just like any other student and would help other students with understanding that.

A Video Summary

Laci_W — 2023-12-08 00:17:33 UTC