About 400,000 Canadians suffer from glaucoma. In fact, this chronic eye disease affects 1% to 3% of the population of the Western world age 40 and over, and its incidence increases with age—reaching 10% in people over 80. Glaucoma is an extremely insidious disease. It can destroy the functional capacity of the eyes irreversibly and without warning. Screening is thus a major issue in the fight against glaucoma, especially as there are effective treatments that can prevent or slow progression of the disease.
Written in simple and clear language by doctors specializing in eye disorders, this book covers all aspects of the disease and provides important information for those who have glaucoma and the people close to them:
The different forms and symptoms of glaucoma
Known causes and risk factors
Diagnostic tests
Prevention
Drug therapies, laser treatments and surgical procedures
Daily living with glaucoma
Treatments of the future
25 most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about glaucoma
Useful addresses
Dr. Pierre Blondeau is a full clinical professor at the University of Sherbrooke. He received his training in glaucoma at the University of Iowa and has been practicing and teaching at the Sherbrooke university health centre (CHUS) since then. He has also served as academic director and head of ophthalmology at CHUS.
In addition to acting as a reviewer for a number of professional journals, Dr. Blondeau has published more than 60 research studies and given more than 160 presentations—provincially, nationally and internationally. The excellence of his research and his commitment to teaching have earned him numerous awards.
Dr. Blondeau has been dedicated to educating people with glaucoma for many years. Aware of the disastrous consequences when those with glaucoma fail to treat their disease out of ignorance, Dr. Blondeau established information sessions for patients that have been attended by more than 1,500 participants. He also produced a teaching DVD (Vivre avec le glaucome) for people with glaucoma to complement the information sessions.
Dr. Paul Harasymowycz heads the glaucoma research unit at the University of Montreal and has served as clinician and researcher at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital and the Guy-Bernier Research Centre since 2011. He is medical director of the Bellevue Ophthalmology Clinics and the Montreal Glaucoma Institute. He is also medical director of the Quebec Glaucoma Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting glaucoma research in Quebec, increasing public awareness of the disease and educating people who suffer from the illness.
Dr. Harasymowycz's research focuses on glaucoma screening, new diagnostic technologies and new surgical treatments for glaucoma and cataracts. He has a passion for teaching students, residents and glaucoma fellows and is often invited to present and teach surgical techniques at national and international conferences. He is a member of the Glaucoma Committee of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) and sits on the board of directors of the Association des Médecins Ophtalmologistes du Québec (Quebec's association of ophthalmologists). He has published over fifty articles in peer-reviewed medical journals as well as book chapters on glaucoma.
6.•Living with glaucoma
Psychological impact
Getting around
Sports and leisure
Lifestyle and nutrition
Glaucoma and other eye disorders
Low vision rehabilitation
Television and computer screens
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
7.•Treatments of the future
Future drugs
Personalized medicine
Diagnostic imaging and surgical techniques
New implants
Gene therapy
Stem cell transplantation
8.•Useful addresses
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