Glacoma

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the optic nerve of your eye and corrupts vision. The optic nerve is responsible for transmitting visual signals from the eye to the brain, which helps a person see. Damage to this nerve can result in blindness!

The initial stages of glaucoma may go unnoticed or be painless due to the absence of any symptoms. For this very reason, it’s also called the “silent thief of sight”.

Once the damage begins, it keeps progressing and becomes irreversible. Therefore it’s vital to get an early diagnosis of glaucoma and consult glaucoma specialists to preserve what’s left of your vision and prevent the further spread of the disease.According to the National Health Portal of India, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness: it’s affected at least 12 million people and resulted in blindness in 1.2 million people.

Glaucoma is caused by the gradual deterioration of the optic nerve. For reasons even glaucoma specialists cannot fully comprehend, this damage is caused by fluid buildup, which exerts high pressure inside the eye.

Though the causes are unclear, certain risk factors might contribute to glaucoma, such as:

  • Age: Glaucoma becomes more common after 60
  • Ethnicity: People of African, Caribbean, or Asian origin are at a higher risk
  • Family history: One’s likely to develop glaucoma if an immediate family member has the condition
  • Medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure
  • Extreme conditions of long-sightedness and short-sightedness

Risks of Developing Glaucoma
Glaucoma is caused by the gradual deterioration of the optic nerve. For reasons even glaucoma specialists cannot fully comprehend, this damage is caused by fluid buildup, which exerts high pressure inside the eye.
Though the causes are unclear, certain risk factors might contribute to glaucoma, such as:

  • Build-up of aqueous humour inside the eye
  • Blunt or chemical injury
  • Acute eye infection or inflammatory conditions
  • Age: Glaucoma becomes more common after 60
  • Ethnicity: People of African, Caribbean, or Asian origin are at a higher risk
  • Family history: One’s likely to develop glaucoma if an immediate family member has the condition
  • Medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure
    Extreme conditions of long-sightedness and short-sightedness

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Vision loss begins on the outer edge (or peripheral vision) first and gradually works inwards, worsening over time. It’s often linked to a buildup of pressure inside your eye. The symptoms may be apparent only as the disease progresses.

Progressive stages of glaucoma may have the following symptoms:

  • Loss of vision or blurred vision
  • Halo around lights
  • Persistent headaches or migraines
  • Eye redness and inflammation
  • Intense eye pain
  • Early presbyopia

Types of Glaucoma

There are four main types of glaucoma.
1. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common type of glaucoma. It tends to develop slowly without any visible symptoms and may be caused due to increased fluid production or resistance in fluid output, which results in increased eye pressure.
Beginning from the peripheral vision, it slowly gravitates towards the centre, eventually leading to blindness.

2. Closed-Angle Glaucoma
Also known as acute-congestive glaucoma, it’s the second most common type of glaucoma. It tends to develop gradually and shows symptoms abruptly. It’s caused by blocked or narrow drainage channels of the eye, leading to a quick rise in eye pressure.
In severe cases, patients might show symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and migraine; patients might even require the immediate attention of an ophthalmologist.

3. Normal-Tension Glaucoma
Also called low-tension glaucoma, it may affect an individual in spite of them having normal intraocular pressure. The causes are unknown, but specialists suspect it to be a result of a damaged or fragile optic nerve or reduced blood pressure to the optic nerve.
With no symptoms in the early stages, having low blood pressure could be a potential risk factor for normal-tension glaucoma.

4. Congenital Glaucoma
Also known as childhood glaucoma, it’s quite rare and usually affects infants or young children.
Evaluating this condition is easier when abnormalities are apparent. Affected children usually have visible symptoms such as cloudy eyes, sensitivity to light, excessive blinking or tearing, and discolouration of the eye.
Conventional surgery or medication is the best solution for treating congenital glaucoma since the condition is in its early stages.

A routine eye test at the ophthalmologist may help in the early diagnosis of glaucoma. A glaucoma specialist will thoroughly analyze the patient’s medical history and conduct a comprehensive eye examination.

The following quick and pain-free tests may be further required to assess if the patient has developed glaucoma:

  • Tonometry or measuring the intraocular fluid pressure (IOP)
  • Looking for optic nerve damage by dilating and imaging it
  • Visual field test (perimetry) to measure peripheral vision or check blind spots in the eye
  • Pachymetry test performed to determine corneal thickness
  • Gonioscopy for examining the drainage angle of the anterior chamber (front of the eye)
  • Nerve Fibre ( RNFL) Scanning to check for loss of the nerve fibres

Prasad Netralaya Eye Hospital has the most technologically advanced equipment, such as an applanation tonometer, ultrasonic pachymeter, and more, that helps our glaucoma specialists investigate the depth of the disease and suggest the most suitable mode of treatment.

Treatments by Glaucoma Specialists

Little is known about the cure for glaucoma. Patients usually ask, “Is there a cure for glaucoma”? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

The spread of the glaucoma can be treated, but once it’s in the final stage, blindness is inevitable and irreversible. Eye drops that alleviate optic nerve damage, oral medication, and interventional procedures, such as laser (to lower eye pressure) or microsurgery, can help in the initial stages of glaucoma to an extent.

We highly recommend frequent visits to your nearest ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment to halt the further spread of glaucoma.

At Prasad Netralaya Eye Hospital, doctors will analyze your eye health in detail with a comprehensive examination, and our glaucoma specialist will determine the best course of action necessary for your eye condition.

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