• People with glaucoma may also need more time on visual tasks as well as breaks to prevent fatigue.
  • Seating may need to vary for the person depending on the visual acuity, lighting and other environmental factors.
-Being able to collaborate and working with the team will be the key in making a student’s education successful.

Hannah’s Story

The following video shows an elementary age student with glaucoma:
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Resources:

American Glaucoma Society (AGS): AGS’s goal is to promote patient care and preserve/enhance vision for those with glaucoma and those who research glaucoma.

Children’s Glaucoma Foundation: an online meeting place for parents, caretaker, and adults living with or affected by congenital or childhood glaucoma.

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Photo from:
Glaucoma /
By: Angela Garcia, Denniqua Holloway, Maria Pimentel and Jessica Vaughn Menefee

What is Glaucoma?

- Glaucoma is an eye condition which occurs when there is a buildup or increased pressure in the eye(s).
- Eye pressure can increase when eye fluid does not circulate normally in the front part of the eye.
- Unless the pressure is brought down or controlled, parts of the eye could be damage which can result in vision loss.
- There are two main types of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma.
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Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma

-Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms of glaucoma.
-Common symptoms include:
  • Hazy vision
  • Eye and head paid
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sudden sight loss
  • Appearance of rainbow-colored circles around bright lights
-Normal eye pressure is between 12-22 mm Hg. If an eye examine reveals a person has increased eye pressure, they should have consistently monitor their eyes to prevent vision loss.

Treating Glaucoma

-Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, medication, laser surgery, traditional surgery or any combination of these methods.
-The goal of any treatment is to reduce or control the pressure in the eye and to prevent loss of vision. Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible. / -Early detection is key to stabilizing glaucoma and prevent future vision loss. Without proper treatment, glaucoma will progress rapidly resulting in complete vision loss.
-Treatment for glaucoma is a lifelong process. Patients must take medication and monitor their vision periodically to prevent further vision loss.

Students with Glaucoma

-There are several things to consider to support a student with glaucoma:
  • Corrective lenses can help with acuity issues
  • Photophobia can cause intolerances and sensitivities to light. Students may benefit from wearing sunglasses or hats.
  • Create materials with high contrast. Typically red is a good color to use but explore to see what works best for the student.
  • Increasing the size of materials and images may also help. Low vision aids such as a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) may help the person access their environment.