What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition characterized by elevate intraocular pressure (IOP). The eyeball has a natural circulation of aqueous fluid that nourishes the cornea and the lens. And just as a basketball needs pressure to bounce, the eye has a normal pressure to maintain its shape and function. When the fluid circulation is obstructed, the pressure can increase. The pressure is distributed throughout the entire eye, and elevated IOP can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, the cable that transmits visual information to the brain.
There are two main types of glaucoma:
Angle-closure glaucoma: This type occurs when the iris is very close to the drainage angle in the eye, blocking fluid from draining out. This can cause a sudden increase in eye pressure, leading to an acute attack with symptoms like:
- Severe eye pain
- Headache
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
This is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.
Open-angle glaucoma: This is the most common type and occurs gradually. The eye doesn't drain fluid as well as it should, leading to increased eye pressure and optic nerve damage. This type is painless and causes no vision changes at first, and is often known as “the silent thief of vision.”
Who is at risk?
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but the risk is higher if you:
- Are over the age of 40
- Have a family history of glaucoma
- Have high eye pressure
- Are of African, Hispanic or Asian descent
- Have diabetes or certain medical conditions
Why is Glaucoma Serious?
Glaucoma-related vision loss is Permanent. One vision is lost; it cannot be restored. However, when glaucoma is detected early, treatment can usually prevent vision loss.
Treatment for Glaucoma
The treatment for glaucoma is tailored to each patient and focuses on lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) to prevent further damage to the optic nerve. Here are some common treatment options:
- Medications: These are usually the first line of treatment and can include eye drops or oral medications. They work by either reducing the production of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow from the eye. In other words, these medicines either turn off the faucet or improve drainage.
- Laser Therapy: This involves using a laser to help drain fluid from the eye. There are different types of laser treatments, such as trabeculoplasty for open-angle glaucoma and iridotomy for angle-closure glaucoma.
- Surgery: If medications and laser therapy are not effective, surgical procedures may be recommended. These can include trabeculectomy, where a new drainage pathway is created, or the insertion of drainage implants to help fluid escape from the eye. MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries) are a newer but less reliable form of treatment
Regular follow-up appointments with us are important to preserve vision. Testing involves checking for visual acuity, peripheral visual fields, optic nerve photos, tomography to measure changes to the optic nerve, and IOP measurements.
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