The Fourth Annual Circle of Sisters event was held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City a few months ago. If you have had the opportunity to attend this event, you know that it is an exciting occasion full of music and live performances by well-known artists. It’s also an ideal place to gather information on business, fashion, education, insurance, health, art and much more.

The room was filled with more than 100 merchants, eager to sell their products and services. I spoke to a dozens or so vendors, purchased a few items and collected business cards as I strolled through the event. One of the vendors I spoke to was a representative of Alcon Laboratories, a global health care company and leader in eye care products—they were administering free eye exams to the public. I have not experienced problems with my eyes or my vision, but it seemed like a good idea to have my eyes examined anyway. After all, regular check ups are an important step in preventing and detecting disease in its early stages. So, I waited in line for about 20 minutes and carried on conversation with the other participants. I was happy to see so many brothers and sisters interested in taking the eye exam, especially since there were so many other exciting things going on around us.

The eye exam was quick, accurate and painless. Some participants received favorable results, others were told that they needed new glasses or to consult their doctor or eye care professional for further examination. The Alcon Rep gave me a sheet with my test results, which I mailed to my doctor when I returned home. As I was leaving the booth, he asked me if there was a history of Glaucoma in my family. Glaucoma is an eye disease that runs in many African-American families and is the leading cause of blindness amongst this group. I had no reason to be concerned about Glaucoma but I was interested in learning more about the eye disease so I placed my name on the mailing list.

A few weeks passed and I received a Glaucoma pamphlet in the mail from Alcon Laboratories. As I read more about this eye disease, I learned that although African Americans have a greater risk of getting the disease, it is not known if the disease is due to a patients’ African-American heritage or the darkness of their eyes. Either way, we must take steps to educate ourselves and protect our eyesight, especially if we have a relative with the disease.

The Q & A listed below comes directly from the pamphlet “A New Generation of Hope for African-American Families with Glaucoma”. I also used a second source entitled “Healthy Living”, a Cothran Publication. Cothran Publications is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people of African decent by promoting awareness of disease.

What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye disease that involves damage to the optic nerve, which sends visual signals to the brain. No one knows exactly what causes this damage, but pressure buildup in the eye is proven to be one of the major risk factors associated with glaucoma.

What is the optic nerve? The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers. It connects the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye with the brain. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision.

Is there more than one type of Glaucoma? Yes, there are several different types of glaucoma. The most common is called open-angle glaucoma (OAG), which accounts for about 80% of all cases. It develops slowly over time, usually after the age of 40, though African Americans can acquire glaucoma much earlier. Patients with this type of glaucoma may experience a gradual narrowing of their peripheral vision, which many call “tunnel vision,” or areas of vision loss.

Why do African Americans have a higher rate of getting glaucoma? The reason for the higher rate of glaucoma and subsequent blindness among African Americans is still uncertain. Reasons may include:

1. A greater susceptibility to damage to the optic nerve
   
2. A higher occurrence of earlier onset pressure in the eye
   
3. Not prioritizing detection and treatment of glaucoma

• Prostaglandin Analogues
  
• Beta Blockers
  
• Alpha Agonists
  
• Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
  
• Miotics