What is Glaucoma?

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases causing optic nerve damage. The optic nerve carries images from the retina, which is the specialized light sensing tissue, to the brain so we can see. In glaucoma, eye pressure plays a role in damaging the delicate nerve fibers of the optic nerve. When a significant number of nerve fibers are damaged, blind spots develop in the field of vision. Once nerve damage and visual loss occur, it is permanent. Most people don't notice these blind areas until much of the optic nerve damage has already occurred. If the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness results. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world, especially in older people. Early detection and treatment by your ophthalmologist are the keys to preventing optic nerve damage and vision loss from glaucoma.

What Causes Glaucoma?

The exact causes of optic nerve damage from glaucoma is not fully understood, but involves mechanical compression and/or decreased blood flow of the optic nerve. Although high eye pressure sometimes leads to glaucoma, many people can also develop glaucoma with "normal" eye pressure.

What Are The Different Types Of Glaucoma?

Open-angle glaucoma

Chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. The "open" drainage angle of the eye can become blocked leading to gradual increased eye pressure. If this increased pressure results in optic nerve damage, it is known as chronic open-angle glaucoma. The optic nerve damage and vision loss usually occurs so gradually and painlessly that you are not aware of trouble until the optic nerve is already badly damaged.

Angle-closure glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma results when the drainage angle of the eye narrows and becomes completely blocked. In the eye, the iris may close off the drainage angle and cause a dangerously high eye pressure. When the drainage angle of the eye suddenly becomes completely blocked, pressure builds up rapidly, and this is called acute angle-closure glaucoma. The symptoms include severe eye pain, blurred vision, headache, rainbow haloes around lights, nausea and vomiting. Unless an ophthalmologist treats acute angle-closure glaucoma quickly, blindness can result. When the drainage angle of the eye gradually becomes completely blocked, pressure builds up gradually, and this is called chronic angle-closure glaucoma. This form of glaucoma occurs more frequently in people of African and Asian ancestry, and in certain eye conditions

Sensimed's Triggerfish Lens A circular strain gauge in the contact lens detects changes in the diameter of the eye. The tiny microelectromechanical systems chip then reads the data and transmits the information wirelessly to an external receiver worn around the patient's neck. Sensimed

Glaucoma is a tricky ailment to manage; rather than being a single disease, it's actually a cluster of diseases with various manifestations that, taken as a whole, are the second leading cause of blindness. But medical microtechnology firm Sensimed has engineered a sensor-laden contact lens that glaucoma sufferers can wear around-the-clock, helping doctors not only manage the potentially debilitating disease, but also learn more about how the mysterious condition works.
Little is really understood about glaucoma's mechanisms, mostly because they are constantly changing. For instance, one manageable symptom that seems to be linked to the disease's progression is high intraocular pressure, or pressure caused by too much liquid inside the eye. But intraocular pressure changes throughout the day, usually peaking at night when patients are not under doctor's observation. Snapshots of the condition taken during routine doctor visits provide little insight into how the symptoms and diseases are evolving.

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Symptoms of Glaucoma

Untreated and advanced glaucoma can cause:

• Blind spots in your peripheral vision
• Tunnel vision
• Complete blindness

Most types of glaucoma do not have clear signs until excessive damage of the optic nerve has occurred.  Regular eye examinations will enable you to prevent or slow down the progression of the disease and therefore it is essential that you do not wait for noticeable eye problems. 
Signs and symptoms, which you may notice include:

• Family history of the disease
• Loss of peripheral vision (open angle glaucoma)
• Blind spots
• Unstable prescription
• Difficulty in seeing in low light
• Blurred vision
• Uncomfortable, sore, red eyes and even sometimes, severe pain (in the case of acute closed angle glaucoma)
• Halos around lights
• Headaches
• Nausea & Vomiting

Open Angle Glaucoma Symptoms

Open angle glaucoma typically affects people over the age of 50. At first, a person with open angle glaucoma has no symptoms; the condition causes no pain, and vision stays normal.

 

However, as the condition progresses, a person with open angle glaucoma may notice a gradual failure of side vision (objects in front may be clear, but objects to the side may be missed). This may seem similar to looking into a tunnel.

 

If left untreated, glaucoma can begin to cause a loss of straight-ahead vision and eventually lead to irreversible blindness.

Symptoms of Angle Closure Glaucoma

Primary angle-closure glaucoma (also known as acute glaucoma) is another form of glaucoma (see Types of Glaucoma). Unlike symptoms seen with open angle glaucoma, symptoms with this type begin suddenly and violently.

 

In angle closure glaucoma, the fluid at the front of the eye cannot reach the angle and leave the eye. The angle gets blocked by part of the iris. People with this type of glaucoma have a sudden increase in eye pressure.

 

As a result, signs and symptoms of angle closure glaucoma include:

 

• Severe pain
• Nausea
• Redness of the eye
• Blurred vision.
   

If you have these symptoms, you need to seek treatment immediately. This is a medical emergency. If your doctor is unavailable, go to the nearest hospital or clinic.

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Glaucoma Signs and Symptoms

Glaucoma is a complicated disease in which damage to the optic nerve results in vision loss.

There are several forms of glaucoma; the two most common forms are primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and angle-closure glaucoma (ACG).

Symptoms of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

There are typically no early warning signs or symptoms of open-angle glaucoma. It develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years. Most people who have open-angle glaucoma feel fine and do not notice a change in their vision at first because the initial loss of vision is of side or peripheral vision, and the visual acuity or sharpness of vision is maintained until late in the disease. By the time a patient is aware of vision loss, the disease is usually quite advanced. Vision loss from glaucoma is not reversible with treatment, even with surgery.
Because open-angle glaucoma has few warning signs or symptoms before damage has occurred, it is important to see a doctor for regular eye examinations. If glaucoma is detected during an eye exam, your eye doctor can prescribe a preventative treatment to help protect your vision.
In open-angle glaucoma, the angle in your eye where the iris meets the cornea is as wide and open as it should be, but the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time, causing an increase in internal eye pressure and subsequent damage to the optic nerve. It is the most common type of glaucoma, affecting about four million Americans, many of whom do not know they have the disease.
You are at increased risk of glaucoma if your parents or siblings have the disease, if you are African-American or Latino, and possibly if you are diabetic or have cardiovascular disease. The risk of glaucoma also increases with age

What is Glaucoma

Glaucoma is caused by a number of different eye diseases which in most cases produce increased pressure within the eye. This elevated pressure is caused by a backup of fluid in the eye. Over time, it causes damage to the optic nerve. Through early detection, diagnosis and treatment, you and your doctor can help to preserve your vision.



Think of your eye as a sink, in which the faucet is always running and the drain is always open. The fluid in your eye, aqueous humor, is constantly circulating through the anterior chamber. It is produced by a tiny gland, called the ciliary body, situated behind the iris. It flows between the iris and the lens and, after nourishing the cornea and lens, flows out through a very tiny spongy tissue, only one-fiftieth of an inch wide, called the trabecular meshwork, which serves as the drain of the eye. The trabecular meshwork is situated in the angle where the iris and cornea meet. When this drain becomes clogged, aqueous can not leave the eye as fast as it is produced, causing the fluid to back up. But since the eye is a closed compartment, your `sink´ doesn't overflow; instead the backed up fluid causes increased pressure to build up within the eye. We call this open (wide) angle glaucoma.

To understand how this increased pressure affects the eye, think of your eye as a balloon. When too much air is blown into the balloon, the pressure builds, causing it to pop. But the eye is too strong to pop. Instead, it gives at the weakest point, which is the site in the sclera at which the optic nerve leaves the eye.

The optic nerve which carries visual information to the brain is made up of over one million nerve cells, and while each cell is several inches long, it is extremely thin. When the pressure in the eye builds, the nerve cells become compressed, causing them to become damaged and, eventually die. The death of these cells results in permanent visual loss. Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma can help prevent this from happening.

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Symptoms Of Hpv

Are you worried that you might, at some point in your life, contract a so called STD? If you are, in this article I am, sadly enough, potentially going to make you even more worried - and, at the same time, likely going to inform you as to a STD that you might not have heard about, or atleast not heard about to the degree that "we" hear about STDs like clamydia, and more. In this article I am going to give you the symptoms of hpv - to an STD that is mostly not seen; so, in other words, it's a very good thing if you have the symptoms of hpv at hand, so you can check yourself. I do hope that you find enjoyment in reading the article, and that you are helped by the information contained in it. I want to thank you so much for taking the time to read the article.

Actually, there exists an antidote to the hpv. This is called gardasil.

In case you didn't know, there are two types of hpv. Actually more than a hundred. Actually, some of the worse ones of these can give you cancer. The not that bad types of hpv gives you things like warts on your genitalia. It isn't that bad, although it might not be fun to show to others - or likely to end up in having sex; or, you wanting to spread it to them.

What you need to know, when it comes to the worse types of hpv, is that if left unchecked this can become cancer. If you already have hpv, and that is the not that bad type of hpv, you can actually have more types - at the same time. But, don't worry too much - as in the majority of the occassions the hpv will go away on its own



The Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV for short, comes in few different forms. These include, Plantar Warts, Common Warts, Flat Warts and Genital Warts. HPV symptoms for each of these vary to a great degree, but there will be similarities.
If an infected person displays any HPV symptoms they should seek medical help. HPV is a highly infectious virus and can spread very rapidly. There is also the little known fact that although HPV symptoms can be treated, the actual HPV virus cannot be cured.
Instead, the HPV infected person will have to fight the virus internally. In other words the person's immune

 system will need to fight the good fight. Unfortunately this fight can sometimes take a few years to become a victory for the immune system.
Until then a person can, and in most cases will, display HPV symptoms and signs. There are of course exceptions to this rule and some people can go around with the HPV virus for a few years and not display any HPV symptoms at all.
For the most part HPV symptoms will manifest themselves in the form of warts. However in some cases there will be no physical manifestation of the HPV symptoms.
HPV symptoms include, but are not limited to the following symptoms. Pink, or flesh colored lesions, single or multiple instances of warts, moisture of the affected area, itching of the affected areas or a burning sensation.
Conversely even if a person displays HPV symptoms in the form of warts this doesn't mean that they will experience any discomfort. They might display a wart or multiple warts, but other accompanying HPV symptoms will not be present.

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HPV Infection

HPV Infection

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that causes skin and mucous membrane (the moist lining of body cavities such as the mouth and nose that connect with the outside of the body) infections. It is passed from one person to another by skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact.

There are more than 100 types of HPV that can affect different parts of the body. Some types of HPV can cause warts (such as genital or plantar warts) and others can cause cancer (such as cervical or anal cancer).
HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Canada and around the world. At least 70% of sexually active men and women will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime, and approximately 3 to 9 million Canadians are infected with HPV.
The different HPV types are classified into low and high risk based on their association with cancer. "Low risk" types rarely cause cancer. "High risk" types have a greater likelihood of causing cancer but they do not necessarily lead to cancer. These various types can cause different conditions, including:

• skin warts: These infections are also known as common, plantar, or flat warts and are caused by low-risk types. The warts can appear on your arms, face, feet, hands, and legs. They can develop at any age but are most common in children.
• genital warts: HPV types 6 and 11 cause most cases of genital warts and are low-risk types.
• cervical dysplasia: HPV can cause lesions of abnormal cells called cervical dysplasia in a woman's cervix. These lesions are considered to be precancerous (they are not cancerous cells, but they may develop into cancer cells later). The HPV infection often resolves and clears on its own, but cervical dysplasia should be treated because it can lead to cervical cancer.
• cervical cancer: The high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of all cervical cancers. Types 16 and 18 have also been linked to penile cancer and anal cancer. 

The HPV or human papilloma virus is a viral disease that can be infectious when symptoms are not displayed clearly, and the person affected is not aware of it. Genital HPV infection likewise is a sexually transmitted disease that is usually caused by HPV. HPV is a group of more than 100 related human pappiloma virus and types. Typically, people affected with this virus will not see any clear symptoms.
HPV infection is becoming a common disease, and there are roughly 20 million people worldwide are infected with this virus. There is about 50% of men and women who are sexually active, produce genital infection. Every type of HPV has the possibility to cause an abnormal growth on a specific part of the body. The most common that develops are genital warts, and some wounds in the genitals and the anus.
Although the signs and symptoms of genital infection are not that visible, they usually appear on the type of the HPV transmission that a person may have. The following symptoms are:

• Genital warts. Genital warts are not malignant and they usually appear as a plain lesion. The appearance would look like a small cauliflower. The most common HPV types that are incorporated with genital warts are type 6 and type 11; however, they are not associated with cancer.
• Pre-malignant genital lesions. There are several HPV that can cause cellular changes that may result in precancerous wounds. These irregularities can be detected by a Smear test, which is a laboratory examination utilized to collect cells from the vagina.
• Mouth and upper respiratory lesions. Some warts may develop in the mouth, tongue, tonsils, palate, larynx and in the nose.
• Common warts that appear in the hands, fingers and fingernails. These warts usually appear as unsmooth bumps.
• Plantar warts are nonmalignant hard growths that usually grow in the heel of the feet. This may be uncomfortable because of the pain it brings.

HPV infection is not a curable disease just like other viral diseases. The warts can be removed and cured with the use of some methods. The most effective method to treat HPV disease is by boosting the immune system. The treatment may last for about 2 to 3 years. Prevention is simply the best treatment for this infection. Living a healthy lifestyle is the secret to HPV infection free life.

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Difference Between Genital Warts and Herpes?

What is The Link Between Cervical Cancer and HPV? 
There is often confusion about the link between HPV and Cervical cancer. While the HPV Virus can be harmless in many instances, there are other types of HPV which can potentially cause cervical cancer. Here, we’ve explained exactly how the HPV Virus is linked to Cervical cancer. An important topic, all women should know about.
HPV is one of the most common types of diseases and is highly contagious. It is estimated that 70% of people are infected with the HPV virus. Because it can be contracted by skin to skin contact, it is transferred easily.

Genital warts are one of the most well known types of HPV Viruses however not much is known about it, unlike other sexually transmitted infections.
The signs
Genital warts can be visible but they can also be internal located on the cervix, anus or inside the vagina. Because of this, the person who is infected may not even know they are infected. Even if they are external, they may be painless and flesh coloured so they may not be attended to. If ever experiencing unexpected pain or bleeding, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

How do they spread?

Herpes is generally contracted from skin contact. It is basically a sexually transmitted disease. Once another person comes in contact with the infected area, the virus may enter the body and continue lying inside in a latent state. It becomes active in the body when the immune system of the carrier is compromised to a certain extent.
A genital wart appears as a hard or soft bump on your private parts. It may often be confused with papules, angiokeratomas or Fordyce spots. This is also spread by skin contact.

Symptoms

Herpes results in lesions in the affected areas. This can start off as red bumps that develop into blisters or open sores. They may also take the form of lesions that appear scabbed over. The whole affair takes about 10 days to develop. During the period, the patient may also suffer from itching on the skin accompanied by pain in some cases.
The genital warts, usually caused by HPV are different. They may remain asymptomatic for a long time. People who contract HPV may go without symptoms for days, and clear the infection in a few days-without even coming to know about it.

Treatment

There is a lot of difference between the treatment provided for genital warts and herpes lesions.
The HPV virus has no cure. But don’t panic just yet. The good news is that your body will get rid of it in a few days by itself. However, if you have genital herpes, or even an oral one, your doctor may prescribe stronger antiviral medications for you. These may shorten the duration of the attacks or cause less frequent outbreaks. It is important to understand that the body cannot be cured of it by these medications

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HPV Warts

HPV Warts – Painful Ordeal We Are Decided on Fighting

HPV Warts appear as a result of virus infection and if they are visible, we feel as if they cast stigma upon us. However, apart from looking ugly, warts can be quite insidious and dangerous for their discontent and often desperate owner. It is important to bear in mind that these are viral infections. And some of the viruses that cause genital warts can also result in cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, and anal cancer in women. In addition, they are directly related to the development of penile cancer, anal cancer, and prostate cancer in men.

HPV Warts develop after the skin gets infected with a virus from the papiloma family. They are ugly and sometimes feel itchy, with the culprit being HPV (human papiloma virus). Depending on the virus subtype (there are more than 100), warts can appear on different parts around the body and will look different.

HPV Warts conquer the whole body with ease. In the beginning, they develop in the form of rash, increasing in size week after week and changing their color and morphology.

There are different types of hpv warts that can develop on all parts of the body; however, the following appear more often: warts on hands, finger warts, warts on face, foot warts, genital warts – condyloma /below you can find links to articles about Male Genital Warts and Female Genital Warts/. In addition, they can grow in the nail area, causing lots of pain and inconvenience.  Big warts cause traumas to the surrounding skin – small lesions that sometimes result in bleeding.

 

How Can I Tell if I have Herpes or Warts?
You can self-diagnose but the best way to be sure is to visit your doctor for a formal diagnosis. For herpes, if you have no symptoms, doctors can take a blood test, viral culture, or antigen test, or a combination of these. For warts, the doctor may use a pap smear or swab test to see if you have the virus.
How Can They Be Treated?
Once a person has been infected with HPV or HSV2, the virus will remain in the body, and go through periods of dormancy and activity until your immune system clears it.
HPV treatment (for genital warts) involves topical creams, cryosurgery (cold burning removal), and LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure, which removes the wart by hot burning). Cryosurgery and LEEP must be performed by doctors. Using creams at home can be a safe and easy way to treat HPV.
There is no known cure for HSV2 but there are various treatment options you can discuss with your doctor such as antiviral therapy.
There is a vaccine available for HPV that is best administered before you become sexually active. The vaccine is fairly widely used and has been proven to be effective against some HPVs that are linked to cervical cancer, warts and other high-risk types of HPV. Even when vaccinated, you should obtain regular pap smears and practice safe sex.

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Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV)

HPV at a Glance

• A very common infection 
• A few types can lead to cervical and other cancers
• Treatment available for cell changes in the cervix caused by HPV
• Spread easily by skin-to-skin contact
• There are ways to reduce your risk of getting HPV

Want to get tested for HPV? Find a health center

We all want to protect ourselves and each other from infections like HPV, the human papillomavirus. Learning more about HPV is an important first step.
Here are some of the most common questions we hear people ask about HPV. We hope you find the answers helpful, whether you think you may have HPV, have been diagnosed with it, or are just curious about it.

What is genital HPV infection?

Genital human papillomavirus (also called HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of males and females. These HPV types can also infect the mouth and throat. Most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it.
HPV is not the same as herpes or HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). These are all viruses that can be passed on during sex, but they cause different symptoms and health problems.

What are the signs, symptoms and potential health problems of HPV?

Most people with HPV do not develop symptoms or health problems from it. In 90% of cases, the body’s immune system clears HPV naturally within two years.

• But sometimes, certain types of HPV can cause genital warts in males and females. Rarely, these types can also cause warts in the throat -- a condition called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis or RRP.
• Other HPV types can cause cervical cancer. These types can also cause other, less common but serious cancers, including cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and head and neck (tongue, tonsils and throat).

The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause cancer. There is no way to know which people who get HPV will go on to develop cancer or other health problem

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What are the symptoms of genital warts?

If symptoms do appear then the infected person may notice pinkish/white small lumps or larger cauliflower-shaped lumps on the genital area. Genital warts can appear on or around the penis, the scrotum, the thighs or the anus. In women genital warts can develop around the vulva or inside the vagina and on the cervix. If a woman has warts on her cervix, this may cause slight bleeding or, very rarely, an unusual coloured vaginal discharge. Warts may occur singly or in groups. The warts may itch, but they are usually painless. Sometimes genital warts can be difficult to spot. In severe cases, it is possible for genital warts to spread from the genitals to the area around the anus, even if anal intercourse has not occurred.
Occasionally, people can confuse skin problems caused by other STDs (such as genital herpes, syphilis or molluscum) with genital warts. Other people may become very worried because they mistake perfectly normal and non-infectious lumps and bumps for genital warts. Conditions that may be confused with genital warts include:

• Pearly penile papules - small white or skin-coloured bumps that, when numerous, appear in a ring around the edge of the head of the penis. More rarely, similar papules may be found on the vulva.
• Angiokeratomas - bright red or purple spots that look a little like blood blisters.
• Sebaceous glands (also known as 'Fordyce spots') - hard white, yellowish or skin-coloured little bumps that may be found all over the skin of the penis and scrotum in men, and the vulva in women. Sebaceous glands produce a substance called sebum, which keeps the skin healthy.
• Pimples or spots - caused by blocked sebaceous glands. Pimples and spots can form just as easily around the genital area as they do on the face, and may become sore and inflamed in a similar way.

All of the above are common, non-infectious skin manifestations that are not sexually transmitted.
Any doubt about lumps and bumps on the genitals can usually be resolved by a visit to a doctor or sexual health clinic


In most cases, your body's immune system defeats an HPV infection before it has a chance to create any warts. When warts do appear, they may vary in appearance depending on which variety of HPV is involved:

• Genital warts. Genital warts may appear as flat lesions, small cauliflower-like bumps or tiny stem-like protrusions. In women, genital warts appear most commonly on the vulva but may also occur near the anus, on the cervix or in the vagina. In men, genital warts may appear on the penis and scrotum or around the anus. Genital warts rarely cause discomfort or pain.
• Common warts. Common warts appear as rough, raised bumps that usually occur on the hands, fingers or around fingernails. In most cases, common warts are simply a nuisance because of their appearance, but they may also be painful or susceptible to injury or bleeding.
• Plantar warts. Plantar warts are hard, grainy growths that usually appear on the heel or ball of your feet, areas that feel the most pressure. These warts may cause discomfort or pain.
• Flat warts. Flat warts are flat-topped, slightly raised lesions darker than your regular skin color. They usually appear on your face, neck, hands, wrists, elbows or knees. HPV infections that cause flat warts usually affect children, adolescents and young adults.

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How Is HPV Infection Diagnosed?

How Is HPV Infection Diagnosed?
The appearance of genital warts is one way HPV infection is diagnosed. A doctor simply does a visual inspection. The HPV types associated with warts, however, are not generally the types associated with cancer.

Women infected with the type of HPV that can cause cancer may first be told their Pap test results are abnormal. Pap tests are the main way doctors find cervical cancer or precancerous changes in the cervix.

To find out for sure if the changes are related to HPV, a doctor may decide to perform a DNA test to detect the virus in women who have an abnormal Pap smear. This tells you and your doctor whether the HPV virus you have can cause cancer. Only certain strains of HPV cause cancer. Indeed, HPV 16 and 18 account for 70% of all cervical cancers. This DNA test is often done on women who have mild Pap test abnormalities. It may also be done as part of a routine Pap test to women over age 30.

HPV Symptoms

The HPV virus lives in mucous membranes, such as those in the genital area, or on the skin. If genital warts show up, it's an indication of HPV infection. Genital warts take on many different appearances. They can be raised, flat, pink, or flesh-colored. They can even be shaped like cauliflower. Sometimes there is a single wart; other times multiple warts appear. They can be small or large. They can be on the anus, cervix, scrotum, groin, thigh, or penis.
Genital warts can show up weeks or even months after sexual contact with a person infected with HPV virus. That person may not know he or she is infected and is responsible for HPV transmission.
Some types of genital HPV infection are associated with cancer, including cervical cancer and cancer of the vulva, anus, or penis. If infection occurs with one of these virus types, precancerous changes can occur in cells in the tissue without causing any symptoms.

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