Blogging for the Glaucoma Foundation
Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Approximately 67 million people worldwide have glaucoma, including more than 3 million in the United States.
The Glaucoma Foundation compares a healthy eye to a sink. The faucet is always running, and the drain is always open. The aqueous humor is constantly circulating through the anterior chamber. It is produced by the ciliary body, which is situated behind the iris. The aqueous flows between the iris and the lens, and after nourishing the cornea and lens, flows out of the eye through a very tiny spongy tissue called the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is situated in the angle where the iris and cornea meet.
When this drain becomes clogged, aqueous cannot leave the eye as fast as it is produced, causing the fluid to build up. But since the eye is a closed compartment, the “sink” doesn’t overflow. The backed up fluid causes increased pressure to build within the eye. To understand just how this pressure affects the eye, think of the eye as a balloon. When too much air enters the balloon, the pressure builds and the balloon pops. The eye is too strong to pop, so instead, it gives at its weakest point, which is where the optic nerve leaves the eye.
The optic nerve is part of the central nervous system and carries visual information from the eye to the brain. This nerve is made up of over one million nerve axons, which are nerve fiber extensions of the retinal ganglion cells. When the eye pressure is increased, the optic nerve becomes damaged and the retinal ganglion cells begin to die. This results in permanent vision loss.
At this time, there is no cure for glaucoma. However, through early diagnosis and treatment, blindness can be prevented.
I am one of the lucky glaucoma patients. I was diagnosed eight years ago, at the age of 27. I see my doctor frequently, and I am on daily medications to control the disease. I have suffered very little optic nerve damage so far, and with any luck, it will stay that way. I dream of the day a cure is found – hopefully in my own lifetime.
You can help. On July 28th, Mike and I will be participating in Blogathon 2007. Beginning at 9 AM Eastern, we will blog for 24 straight hours to support The Glaucoma Foundation. Please consider making a pledge for our cause. Every dollar you contribute will help to further research into this horrible disease. As an added incentive, we will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift card at the close of Blogathon 2007. For every $5 you contribute, you will receive one entry into the drawing.
At the close of Blogathon 2007, you will receive an email reminder about fulfilling your pledge. Several people have asked about PayPal. At this time, The Glaucoma Foundation is not accepting PayPal; however, they said that you are welcome to send a check by mail if you do not have a credit or debit card.
Thank you for your help!
Mike & Tish,
I’ve decided to not blog in the blogathon myself (mainly because I didn’t get it together in time to organize myself — maybe ext year) but I stayed up all night last year supporting some other bloggers and I want to do that this year too. I have chosen your cause as my cause. I’d like to help you guys with this and I have some ideas. I’ll be in touch via your contact form.
Polli - Thank you so much for the very generous pledge! You are a true angel! I’m sorry to hear that you won’t be participating in blogathon this year, but I am happy that you’ll be hanging out and helping me and Mike. I’m excited about hearing your ideas! Once again, thank you so very much!
You rock, Polli! :) It’ll be so nice to know we can count on at least a couple people to keep us going in those wee hours of the night..hehe. It’s going to be a looong night, but it will be worth it :D
I figured I could do a write up about this, and hopefully send some donors your way, because I blogged about my Grandpa’s glaucoma not too long ago..
I hope all’s well with your preparations! :)
hiii guys u hv a great blog idea and a good cause here!! i dont know if i can do anything to help ?? just feel free to mail me if i can do anything!! its way too hard for me to participate in the blogathon ….. anyway i can always blog about it!! :D:D
@Pelf: Which site are you blogging on for the Blogathon? I can’t remember. I have a terrible memory :( We’d like to be able to write about your site as well :)
@Confessing: Blogging about it would be great :D Perhaps you could mention our Ten Questions thingy. We’d love to get tons more submissions for that. Everyone is welcome to do it!
ahh finished my post and just submitted my own ten questions!! :D
I’d be doing the Blogathon at The Giving Hands — http://thegivinghands.org :)
Thanks, Pelf! I knew it had something to do with hands. I just couldn’t remember the rest :P
Hi Tish and Mike,
I’m actually writing a story about glaucoma and came across your website. I would love to get a chance to talk with you about your efforts for the blogathon. You can e-mail me at eaevans@usatoday.com or erinelaine85@hotmail.com.
My dh has glaucoma. As does his dad, his sisters, his brothers, his uncles, his aunts, his grandparents…..are we seeing a connection? My dh was diagnosed about 14 years ago and has been on medication, had laser surgery, and also a trabeculectomy. But his pressures are under control and he has no peripheral vision loss. My kids, now 10 and 13 have had elevated pressures for about 2 years now–my 13 yr old had pressures in the high 20’s when she first went in to the doc for an initial “screening.”
I think this is a great cause you are blogging for and I’m going to write something up on my own blog to promote yours. I’ll let you know when it’s done. :)
Hi Karen! Thank you! We appreciate it very much :)
I totally love the artwork on your site :)
As promised, I’ve written a post to guide people over to your site, and your cause.
http://www.pediascribe.com/200.....of-nature/
Jul 14th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
[...] — posting every 30 minutes — for The Glaucoma Foundation. I was very touched by Tish’s post explaining why they chose this particular charity to raise funds for. Since I have several eye [...]
Jul 15th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Eye Digest 30 May…
Mike and Tish @ Blogs We Luv will be blogging for The Glaucoma Foundation during this up-coming blogathon. And as an added incentive, they will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card at the close of Blogathon 2007, and for every $5 you contribute, you w…
Jul 26th, 2007 at 6:50 am
[...] the Glaucoma Foundation as their charity for the upcoming Blogathon2007. Swing by their site, especially this link, and find out more about glaucoma, how it has affected their family, and how you can donate to the [...]