Eyes are the organs that take the hard work of converting light into vision that ultimately help us to understand and navigate the world. However, most of us ignore the need to have our eyes checked on a regular basis, particularly for the diseases that progress without our notice. One such condition is Glaucoma also known as the steal of sight. It has the potential to slowly injure the optic nerve, which may go unnoticed in its early stages and result in the irreversible loss of vision when provided with no treatment.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a cluster of eye disorders that result in the gradual destruction of the optic nerve or the nerve that connects the eye and the brain. The most prevalent is the pressure build up within the eye termed as intraocular pressure (IOP). It is caused when the fluid in the eye (aqueous humour) fails to drain. It squeezes the optic nerve fibres and damages the transmission of the visual information over a course of time.
Types of Glaucoma
Glaucoma exists in a number of types but the two most prevalent are:
- Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: It is the most common one and develops painlessly and gradually. The eye drainage canals become less efficient with time leading to slow rise in pressure. The loss of vision starts in the periphery and in many cases, is not notified until very late.
- Angle-Closure Glaucoma: This type arises when the drainage angle between the iris and cornea suddenly gets blocked causing a sudden increase in eye pressure. It results in serious pain, blurring of vision, headache and nausea. It is a healthcare crisis that should be treated as an emergency.
Other rarer forms encompass congenital glaucoma (exists at birth) and secondary glaucoma (inflicted by injury, inflammation, or drug).
Causes and Risk Factors
Although any person can develop glaucoma, some factors predispose people to it:
- Age above 40 years.
- Family history of glaucoma.
- High intraocular pressure.
- Diabetes or hypertension.
- The use of steroid drugs in the long term.
- Eye trauma or eye surgery.
Symptoms show late and thus routine eye testings are imperative especially in persons at high risk.
Recognising the Symptoms
In its early stages, glaucoma often has no noticeable symptoms. The loss of vision is progressive and begins in the peripheral (side) vision and is easily overlooked. With time, when the condition develops, the symptoms can be:
- Blurred vision.
- Vision patchy blind spots in side or centre of the eye
- Eye pain or redness.
- Halos around lights.
- Nausea or headaches (in severe cases).
Vision loss from glaucoma cannot be reversed, so early detection is very important.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The accurate diagnosis of glaucoma is possible only after a thorough eye examination. Tests can involve checking eye pressure (tonometry), optic nerve check, checking the drainage angle, and visual field.
In case of glaucoma diagnosis, medicine is aimed at lowering the pressure in the eyes to avoid additional loss of nerves. Common options include:
- Eye Drops: These are the initial form of treatment that helps to lower eye pressure by slowing down the production of fluid or increasing the drainage.
- Oral Medications: This is occasionally combined with eye drops to achieve extra pressure control.
- Laser Treatment: Laser trabeculoplasty is used to enhance the flow of fluid in open-angle glaucoma, whereas Laser iridotomy uses a new outflow opening in angle-closure cases.
- Surgery: For advanced or unresponsive cases, surgical procedures can help create alternative drainage routes to control pressure.
Medical facilities such as the Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital in India provide specialised treatment of glaucoma.
Living with Glaucoma
Even though glaucoma is not curable, it is a manageable condition that can be treated with early treatment and follow-ups. The patients are also advised to take regular medications, routine eye check-ups, and to adopt a healthy lifestyle to maintain the general eye health.
Seeing the Future Clearly
Glaucoma serves as a reminder that sight, once lost, cannot always be regained, but with awareness and early care, it can be protected. In case you notice changes in your sight or you belong to a high-risk category, you should make an appointment with a reputable expert or learn more about Glaucoma.
Today, it is time to take care of your eyes and make sure that tomorrow the world will be as bright, clear and detailed as you want it to.
Santosh Kumar is a Professional SEO and Blogger, With the help of this blog he is trying to share top 10 lists, facts, entertainment news from India and all around the world.
