What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that damages the optic nerve of the eye. It generally develops when there is excessive fluid in the eye. The extra fluid creates pressure (intraocular pressure) in your eye which results in damage to the optic nerve.
Glaucoma can occur in any age group. It is the primary cause of blindness in people older than 60 years. Some people even get the disease with normal pressure. Negligence in treatment can lead to permanent vision loss. Early detection of the disease can help in the prevention of vision loss.
If you’re suffering from Glaucoma you need treatment or eye examination for the rest of your life to restrict the progression.
What Are the Early Signs of Glaucoma?
The disease spread without any warning signs. The spread is so quick that you notice it when it advances to the progressive stage. However, some of the early symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- Blind Spot
- Severe Headache
- Severe Eye Pain
- Vomiting or Nausea
- Halo- formation or Coloured Rings around the objects
- Redness
- Blurred Vision
- Sometimes, it is difficult to see from the sides
What are the Main Causes of Glaucoma?
Your eyes continually produce aqueous humor. As new aqueous enters your eye, an equal amount should drain out. The fluid drains through a region known as the drainage angle. This procedure keeps intraocular pressure (IOP) constant. However, if the drainage angle is not working properly, fluid accumulates. Pressure inside the eye rises, causing damage to the optic nerve.
Our optic nerve consists of millions of tiny nerve cells. These nerve cells begin to deteriorate, which goes unnoticed until a large number of them are harmed. The damaged nerve cells result in the development of blind spots and gradual vision loss.
Types of Glaucoma
There are several types of Glaucoma. These are listed below:
Open Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common type of glaucoma. It is asymptomatic. In open-angle glaucoma, the eye does not drain fluid as it should resulting in a clogged drain. The progression is painless and there is no visual impairment in the initial phase. However, certain people may have an optic nerve which is sensitive to normal eye pressure. Regular eye examination is of the utmost importance to detect any kind of damage to the optic nerve.
The majority of people with open-angle glaucoma don’t notice a change in their vision until the damage is severe. This explains why glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight.” Regular eye exams might help your ophthalmologist detect this condition before you lose your eyesight.
Closed Angle Glaucoma
Referred as Angle-closure or Narrow-angle glaucoma occurs when your iris is very close to the drainage angle. It is just like paper covering the drain of the skin. The condition is very risky as it can lead to permanent blindness.
People at risk for angle-closure glaucoma typically exhibit no symptoms before a problem arises. Early indications of an attack may include blurred vision, halos, minor headaches, or eye soreness. People who have these symptoms should see their ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
Who is at the Risk of Glaucoma?
Some of the people who are at a higher risk of developing the disease include:
- are over 40
- have a family history of glaucoma
- are of African, Hispanic, or Asian descent
- have high eye pressure
- Suffering from farsightedness or nearsightedness
- have an eye injury
- taking long-term steroid drugs
- Have thin cornea
- Suffering from diabetes, migraine, or high blood pressure
Consult your ophthalmologist if you fall under the risk of developing glaucoma.
Treatment
Glaucoma known as the ‘silent killer’ is one of the irreversible eye disorders. Timely intervention and proper treatment can help in reducing the impact. MM Joshi Eye Hospital Hubli is equipped with the latest treatment for glaucoma and has a team of expert ophthalmologists who can help in early intervention and reducing the progression of the disease.
We use the following methods to diagnose the disease:
- Tonometry – Measurement of the intraocular pressure
- Gonioscopy – Inspection of the drainage angle of the eye
- Ophthalmoscopy – Evaluation of optic nerve damage
- Perimetry – Testing the visual field of each eye
In addition, some of the treatments offered by the hospital for the effective treatment of the disorder are:
- Glaucoma Surgeries like Trabeculectomy: A combined procedure of Cataract Surgery and Trabeculectomy.
- Cyclodestructive procedures like Cyclocryopexy and Trans scleral cyclo photocoagulation.
- Glaucoma Drainage Device like AGV implantation.
Consulting an eye specialist for glaucoma treatment is important to combat the impact of the disease.
Conclusion
Recognising early warning signs and symptoms of glaucoma is crucial for maintaining optimal health and preventing irreversible vision loss. Being vigilant about the changes in vision, eye discomfort, or other symptoms an individual can have a proactive approach. Furthermore, by understanding the risk factors involved with glaucoma and the importance of regular eye check-ups after the age of 40 you can empower your vision health.
FAQs
-
What are the first signs that glaucoma is developing?
The early signs of developing glaucoma are severe headache, eye pain, vomiting or nausea, blurred vision, blind spot, halo or ring formation around the objects, etc.
-
How do you detect glaucoma in the early stages?
Generally, glaucoma remains asymptomatic in the initial stage. The patient does not understand the problem before the condition worsens. However, if you find yourself under the high-risk category of the disease you can look for factors such as eye pain, headache, nausea, blurred vision and halo formation and consult the doctor immediately.
-
Where does glaucoma usually start?
The initial impact of glaucoma is not easy to detect without any eye specialist intervention. However, you can notice changes in your vision or blindness at the sides of your eyes close to your nose.
-
What age does glaucoma start?
People above 40 years are at a high risk of developing open-angle glaucoma. However, the disease can affect anyone who has high intraocular pressure (IOP) and has blocked eye drainage.
-
What is the fastest way to bring down eye pressure?
Some of the ways to reduce eye pressure are: 1) Healthy eating habit 2) Reduced caffeine intake 3) Adequate Sleep 4) Exercise for physical fitness 5) Say no to smoking and alcohol