Nethra

Even if Nycole & I chose a topic that cannot be solved immediately, we came upon this project with certainty as unsuspecting animals and humans lose sight of the one lurking in the shadows: glaucoma. Now, why is it that I did not know of this treacherous disease right up until the point when my  mother was a victim of it? Though it was just a possibility, I was not ready for my mother to part from her eyesight. Ever since that fateful day, I have always pondered about why I and other people my age are not educated about something that is the second leading cause of blindness. If no one was going to teach us, I figured I would have to pick up that responsibility. I was fascinated by what I had learnt; glaucoma not only affects humans but also animals such as cats and dogs! Also, black people and people that had a history of diabetes are 6-8 times more likely to be diagnosed with glaucoma. And here I am today, still on my journey of acquiring knowledge about the silent thief of sight.

Nycole

As Nethra said, the project we chose to do has affected many individuals and their lives because we have not found a cure yet. Glaucoma has not only affected us humans but also animals. Although I knew nothing about glaucoma until I was introduced to it by Nethra, I have found it super interesting how glaucoma can have such a large impact on someone's vision that it could make them lose their vision, though very slowly. Through these last few months, I have learned so much about the three main types and how some people are more likely to get it than others because of other medical conditions that one individual may have that another may not. 

Nycole

For our project, we have decided that we won't be creating a cure for glaucoma; however, to bring awareness to this topic that has stolen the vision of over one percent (80 million) of the world's population. As Nethra and I have mentioned, we aren't doing an experimental project that includes an experiment or an invention; instead, we are doing a study project that includes a model. The models we are creating show what humans and animals have to endure. You may be wondering why we are making multiple different models. We're making various models to show what a regular eye looks like and how any eye with either one of the three main types of glaucoma (neovascular, inflammatory, and traumatic) looks. Our model is our method of showing our project. You may be wondering, other than how the eye looks with glaucoma, is there anything else about the models? Yes, there is: the models we made also give one without this condition the ability to look through the lens of the ones who do, who have to endure the silent thief of sight. For this to work, we have created a hole that you can look through, and Nethra and I have painted it to replicate an eye with glaucoma and the difficulty that folks have to go through. Additionally, we will discuss each step to making this model in the platform.

Nethra

As Nycole said above, we are indeed conducting a research study. In which we cannot create a cure or an invention to solve this issue. However, we have come up with an original idea of building an interactive model to compensate for the loss of being unable to create a solution for glaucoma. We proceeded with this idea with an open mind, gathering as much information as we needed to construct our model. Though presented with various challenges, as not many people talk about how the glaucoma-affected eye differs from the healthy eye, Nycole and I are not ready to give up. As mentioned before, we will be building models on the different types of glaucoma and our control, a healthy eye. Viewers will have the opportunity to experience, safely, the vision of a person with glaucoma.

Nycole (author) 

Nethra (editer) 

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a series of eye diseases that have to do with the optic nerve in the back of the eye. When the optic nerve in the back of your eye is damaged, it can cause the individual trouble with their vision, and occasionally glaucoma can cause blindness. But you may be wondering what I mean by "series of eye diseases"; that is because glaucoma is a group of different eye diseases that all have to do with your optic nerve and your eyesight being damaged. Although there are various types of glaucoma, Nethra and I have decided to focus on only three: traumatic, neovascular, and inflammatory. 

Traumatic Glaucoma

Traumatic glaucoma is a type of secondary glaucoma. It is any genre of glaucoma that is distinguishable through an increase in eye pressure, which means that the optic nerve in the back of your eye is damaged. Traumatic glaucoma is formed when various instruments in the eye are affected by trauma, more specifically to the eye and occasionally the head. Even though you have a chance of getting traumatic glaucoma by injuring an individual's head, frequently traumatic glaucoma is triggered through any ocular trauma, also known as blunt trauma. Ocular trauma appears after a direct or indirect impact on either the globe or the orbit of the eye. Any Ocular trauma has the potential to source an elevation of the eye's IOP or intraocular pressure, which harms the optic nerve. This might not sound bad, but let me explain. Normally, a person's eye has aqueous humour flowing out through the pupil and then absorbed through that individual's bloodstream and a series of drainage canals throughout the outer edge of the iris. So when Ocular or Blunt trauma is present, it can damage the system which is the most common thing to happen is the inside of the ciliary body, where the fluid is created, starts to tear, which then causes the inside of the eye to bleed. A large amount of internal bleeding can cause plasma, which is having an extremely dry eye. This can then accumulate and clog the draining system for the eye fluid to return to the blood system. Another way that a figure could gain traumatic glaucoma is through penetrating injuries like debris. Debris is when any object has entered your eye that isn't supposed to, like wood, dust, etc. When this develops, the eye pressure is lowered, and right after the injury occurs, after the wound is sealed, the tissue on the inside of the eye becomes swollen and irritated; from time to time, internal bleeding may occur, which then causes the eye pressure to rise. Penetrating injuries also block the drainage system for the eye fluid. These injuries can occur through vehicle accidents, head injuries, injuries linked to sports, falls, and any condition that has to do with outrageous impacts to the skull. Traumatic glaucoma can occur many years after an incident or right after an incident, depending on how badly the optic nerve is damaged. 

Some symptoms of Traumatic Glaucoma are:

-Decreasing vision
-Eye pain
-Swelling
-Redness in the eye
-Sensitivity to Light
-Headaches 
-Halos around lights
-Nausea and vomiting

Neovascular Glaucoma

Neovascular glaucoma, also known as NVG, is a hostile secondary angle-closer type of glaucoma. Secondary angle-closer glaucoma is when the angle between the iris and the cornea is damaged. This then forces a slim or shut visibility for the individual. This is triggered by uncommon, brand-new blood vessels growing atop the iris and across the drainage system to the blood system. This overgrowth in new blood vessels is usually the result of diseases like Diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, or ocular ischemic syndrome among others. With such vessels growing, this can disrupt the normal course of the aqueous humor from behind the eye and raise the intraocular pressure. High IOP (intraocular pressure) has the ability to harm the optic nerve that sends visual signals to the brain. If not treated the person might have permanent vision loss that can not be reversed. Nevertheless, NVG can also be linked with higher inflammation level especially when it's caused by the root diseases which are the coexisting conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, and ocular ischemic syndrome. Ischemia arises as the consequence of reduced blood flow to the retina, which further results in release of inflammatory mediators.

Once the retina becomes ischemic it releases some factors, for example - Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory cytokines. These compounds stimulate vessel formation (neovascularization) and provoke inflammation within the eye. Inflammation may aggravate the development of neovascular glaucoma by forming abnormal vessels and being an additional factor.

Moreover, the abnormal blood vessels themselves can make high inflammation. These are frail membranes that can get leaked when inflammatory cells and proteins come into the vitreous humor, which is the fluid that fills the front portion of the eye. The persisting inflammatory response leads to the development of more complicated mechanisms and processes that contribute to both increased intraocular pressure and damage to the optic nerve.

When there's an increase in inflammation, it can cause pain, redness, and occasionally blindness.
Some symptoms of Neovascular Glaucoma are:
-Eye pain
-Blurred vision
-Halos around lights
-Redness in the eye
-Headache
-Nausea and vomiting

Inflammatory Glaucoma

Inflammatory glaucoma or uveitic glaucoma is a secondary glaucoma that occurs secondary to inflammation in the eye. The uvea, an important structure of the eye, is primarily affected by inflammation. The iris, ciliary body, and choroid make the uvea, and brewing inflammation in this area sexes upscreening of the aqueous humor, this fluid supplies the needs of the eye. This disruption of Af-Do can consequently result in bigger intraocular pressure (IOP) that leads to damage of optic nerve and thus vision loss.

Glaucoma caused by uveitis is referred to as uveitic glaucoma. The inflammatory condition that can lead to uveitic glaucoma is uveitis or iridocyclitis. Uveitis is a resulting disease of a uvea that is responsible for inflammation, whereas iridocyclitis is a disease that includes inflammation in iris and ciliary body. Various reasons, including autoimmune diseases, infections, trauma and systemic conditions such as sarcoidosis or rheumatoid arthritis can be the facets of such conditions.

The inflammation in uveitic glaucoma can lead to several complications, including: The inflammation in uveitic glaucoma can lead to several complications, including:

Synechiae Formation: Tissue damages may be caused by inflammation that lead in iris sticking to the lens or cornea. If so, the condition of angle-closure may be created and the drainage of aqueous humor may be blocked.

Trabecular Meshwork Damage: The meshwork is the tiny grid which works like a drainage channel in the eye. It is possible that inflammation causes damages to that, and hence it is more likely for intraocular pressure to build up.

Ciliary Body Dysfunction: Ciliary body inflammation may affect the ocular dynamics and aqueous humor (AH) outflow through the trabecular meshwork which would eventually lead to a pressure buildup within the eye.

Optic Nerve Damage: Over time, high intraocular pressure produces optic nerve damage, and then, the patient can be faced with irreparable visual loss if the condition is left unattended.

Some symptoms of Inflammatory Glaucoma are:

-Eye pain
-Redness 
-Decrease in vision 
-Sensitivity to light
-Headache's
-Floater in your vision
-Halos around light 
-Tearing (watery eyes from the irritation of inflammation)
 

To conclude our project, glaucoma is a treacherous, unpreventable disease that affects many individuals globally. This is why it is vital to spread the knowledge about this chronic, fast-moving condition. Spreading awareness is essential to sustaining a happy environment and a happy life. Nycole & I are to thank you, as without an audience, our message regarding the dangerous yet inevitable glaucoma would have never had an impact. It is vital to spread the word about this condition because, as said before, it moves so slowly that a potential victim cannot sense its presence. We greatly appreciate the time you spent out of your time to be with us today. On that note, have a fabulous rest of your day. Thank you!

APA7

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Glaucoma. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma
2. What is Traumatic Glaucoma? (2019, February 6). News-Medical.net. https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Traumatic-Glaucoma.aspx
3. Glaucoma. (n.d.). Www.hopkinsmedicine.org. Retrieved March 10, 2024, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma#:~:
4. Citation Machine: American Psychological Association 6th Edition format citation generator for journal article. (2019). Citationmachine.net. https://www.citationmachine.net/apa
5. MyBib Contributors. (2019, May 26). APA Citation Generator – FREE & Fast – (6th Edition, 2019). MyBib. https://www.mybib.com/tools/apa-citation-generator

6. Mishra, C., & Meyer, J. J. (2022). Neovascular Glaucoma. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK576393/

7. Flowers, C. W., Jr, Reynolds, D., Irvine, J. A., & Heuer, D. K. (1996). Pupillary Block, Angle-closure Glaucoma Produced by an Anterior Chamber Air Bubble in a Nanophthalmic Eye. Archives of Ophthalmology, 114(9), 1145–1146. https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.1996.01100140347021

8. Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, November 14). Diaphragm (optics). Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragm_(optics)

9. Ciliary body Information | Mount Sinai - New York. (n.d.). Mount Sinai Health System. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/ciliary-body

10. CDC. (2020, November 24). Don’t Let Glaucoma Steal Your Sight! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/glaucoma-awareness.html#

11. Neovascularization. (2023, November 11). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neovascularization#

12. Narrow Angle Glaucoma Symptoms & Treatment in Metro Atlanta. (n.d.). Milan Eye Center. Retrieved March 10, 2024, from https://www.milaneyecenter.com/resources/what-are-narrow-angles-and-how-can-it-affect-me

13. Eye Anatomy and Function. (n.d.). Myhealth.alberta.ca. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=hw121946

14. Glaucoma Research Foundation. https://glaucoma.org/articles/traumatic-glaucoma

15. Secondary Glaucoma | BrightFocus Foundation. (n.d.). Www.brightfocus.org. https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/secondary-glaucoma#:

16. Eye Image from NycoArt on Canva

17. Background from Faye David on Canva 

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Nethra

I would like to acknowledge my mother's contribution to our project. Though she did not help us directly, without her, Nycole & I would have never chosen glaucoma as our topic. Let me give you a little insight into what happened; last year, my mom went for her yearly eye checkup, but this visit was different from the others; she was diagnosed with glaucoma. My mother & I had no idea what this condition was or how to pronounce it! From then on, I made it my goal to learn about this devastating disease and teach others about it. However, I didn't know what type of glaucoma she had because, as mentioned before, glaucoma does not have any noticeable symptoms. Then I thought to myself, "If I can't pick one type of glaucoma to learn about, then why not learn about all three?" But there was one problem: I had learned about glaucoma, but how would I spread awareness to other people? That's when I saw the Calgary Youth Science Fair; I thought this was the perfect opportunity to apply my knowledge about glaucoma. I met a girl named Nycole in my class, who shared similar interests. She was intelligent and loved science; she was willing to be my science fair partner! And here we are today! Honestly, without my mother telling me that she had glaucoma and without Nycole being there for me, I genuinely believe that I wouldn't be here today.

Nycole

I would also like to acknowledge a couple of individuals who have helped me and Nethra through this period of time. The first person that I would like to acknowledge is Nethra. When we first started this project, I was clueless and had no idea what glaucoma was. But as I started to research on my own time, Nethra helped me get a better understanding of what glaucoma is. It made me realize that there are far more diseases that are taking away innocent lives. So her bringing up the idea of doing a research project on glaucoma, has expanded my knowledge on something that I would have never thought of analyzing. Not only is Nethra astonishing to work with, but she has become one of my closest friends this year, and being able to laugh and spend my school days hanging out with her is extraordinary. The next two people I would like to acknowledge are Mr. Zych and Ms. Lavoie. Both of these incredible teachers have guided me and Nethra through our project, whether it was answering the numerous questions we had, or being there to support our every move. I want to give them the biggest thank you for everything that they've done. The following people I would like to thank are my parents and siblings. Throughout this whole project, they've supported my every move, provided me with the items I needed, and cared for me. I want to share my gratitude for everything that they've done for me, and I could never thank them enough for being my biggest cheerleader any day. Lastly, I am honoured to be able to participate in the CYSF this year, and it has been a privilege to come this far. Thank you to all the individuals that have helped me and Nethra.