Glaucoma is a group of eye health conditions. It is usual, especially in the old. This eye condition may lead you to lose your vision if you leave it untreated for a extended period.
Fast facts on Glaucoma
- It is a silent thief of your vision/sight.
- Glaucoma has two primary types – Open-angle and Closed-angle.
- Thyroid problems and ageing are the significant risk factors of Glaucoma.
- The primary symptom is severe eye pain.
- Glaucoma treatment consists of medications and surgery.
Glaucoma – What it is?
Glaucoma is a health condition, which has a direct link to your vision. It has an association with a pressure development inside your eye. In its worse stage, it damages the optic nerve of your eye and leads you to the loss of your vision if you make a delay in its treatment.
Glaucoma Causes
Your eye has a fluid, called aqueous humour. This fluid circulates inside your eyes via a mesh like-channel. Any blockage in this channel causes the liquid build-up. Sometimes, eye specialists have no clear idea about this blockage. However, most of them consider inheritance as the primary cause of this eye problem. Some other causes are as follows:
- A blunt or chemical injury to your eyes
- Stern eye infection
- Inflammatory conditions
- A blockage in blood vessels inside your eyes
- Being over 40
- Poor vision
- Some health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
- Long usage of steroid medications
- Thinner corneas
Types of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is primarily of two types:
- Open-angle Glaucoma – It is a usual type, and your physician may refer it to wide-angle Glaucoma. In this case, the drain structure inside your eyes seems fine, but it has no fluid flow.
- Closed-angle Glaucoma – It is more common in Asia, and doctors may refer it to chronic angle closure, acute closure, or narrow-angle Glaucoma. When it occurs to your eye, there is a very narrow space between your cornea and iris. The narrowness in the drain space causes sudden pressure build-up.
Some other types include:
- Secondary Glaucoma
- Normal-tension Glaucoma
- Pigmentary Glaucoma
Glaucoma Symptoms
In the first type, people usually have no apparent signs of Glaucoma. However, the primary symptoms of this kind of Glaucoma are peripheral vision and tunnel vision. Glaucoma symptoms are significant if you have the second type. You may face faster changes and quicker damage to your eyesight.
Symptoms of closed-angle Glaucoma are as follows:
- Severe eye pain
- Redness in eyes
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Unexpected vision issues
- A feel of halos around lights
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
Glaucoma diagnosis
Glaucoma may lead you to a vision loss. So, don’t make any delay in getting in touch with your eye doctor. The expert will check your vision. By applying eye drops, the doctor will widen your pupils to check your eyes. During the check-up, the eye doctor closely looks at the optic nerves within your eyes. They may ask for a tonometry test for the examination of your eye pressure. You may have to go through a visual field test to know whether you have lost your peripheral vision. Your Glaucoma diagnosis may include:
- Patient history
- Visual activity measurement
- Pachymetry
- Visual of the retina
Glaucoma medications
Your eye doctor may prescribe eye drops and oral medicines. Based on the stage of your Glaucoma, your doctor may ask you to use eye drops, like Combigan, to lower or increase the fluid flow inside your affected eye. Oral medications for Glaucoma may be medicines like Apraclonidine, Levobunolol (Betagan®), and Acetazolamide (Diamox®). Take only prescribed medicines and drops. Avoid taking anything inside your eyes without your eye doctor advice.
Glaucoma surgery
It’s your doctor who will decide to perform a surgery if you have no rest from eye drops and oral medicines. The surgery options for your Glaucoma may be:
- Laser surgery
- Conventional surgery
- Drainage implants
- Trabeculoplasty
In the case of acute-angle Glaucoma, your treatment may be longer for you.
Glaucoma prevention
Eyes are vital parts of your body. With eyes, you see the beautiful world around you. So, there is no alternate to Glaucoma treatment. However, taking some precautions can help you to protect losing your eyesight. Here are some useful preventive tips for you:
- Visit your doctor for regular eye examinations
- Be familiar with your family medical history
- Do eye exercises carefully
- Follow your eye specialist advises
- Use spectacles while playing outside, going in the sun in summer, and doing home improvement works.
Conclusion
Glaucoma is a type of eye problem. You need to get rid of it soon. Otherwise it can lead you to lose your vision. Your doctor will advise what you should do for having rest and what medicines you should take. Following the instructions of your doctor will be helpful for you.
