In Reply to: Re: Does anyone know what Glaucoma is? posted by Matt on April 28, 1999 at 00:50:38:

If I could elaborate. Glaucoma is a condition when the pressure in the eye increases to abnormal levels. what happens is that the nerve cells (or retinal ganglion cells) selectively die. They die in areas as if the death of one helps cause the death of the surrounding cells. I used to do research with someone who worked on this condition and is now a Associate Professor at the Scheie Eye Institute. But although I have heard of glaucoma in man, dogs, ferrets and monkeys I havent heard of any reports in small mammals. In fact i know for a fact that it is almost impossible to induce glaucome in rats or mice. (Yes I do know gliders are marsupials not rodents)
: As for Glaucoma.....
: I am a Manager at a Walmart Vision Center. From what i understand Gliders do not get glacoma. Glacoma is an eye diseise in which the optical nerve deteriates. By the time it is detected in humans usally 90% of the otical nerve is gone. People with Glacoma lose ther perifial vision first.
: The eye prob Gliders have relates to diet...like too many nuts.... be careful of your gliders fat intake and you should be ok.

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