Understanding Glaucoma: Protect Your Sight
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a set of diseases that affect the optic nerve, which relays images from the eye to the brain. The optic nerve is like a cable that carries visual information from the eye to the brain, allowing us to see.
The main types of glaucoma are:
- Open-Angle Glaucoma
- Angle-Closure Glaucoma
- Normal-Tension Glaucoma
- Congenital Glaucoma
These are further divided into categories according to the signs and disease severity.
Open-angle glaucoma, the more prevalent type, develops if the drainage channel in the eye becomes clogged and the pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) rises. This pressure can slowly damage the optic nerve, thus affecting a person’s vision.
Silent thief
In the early stages of glaucoma, there are no noticeable symptoms. This disease progresses gradually and causes painless damage to the optic nerve. The patient may only notice a loss of vision in the final stage, making it a “silent thief” of sight. If left without treatment, glaucoma is also known to have a permanent effect on vision. Regular eye exams can help detect it at the early stages.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucomatous disease, which is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. Prevention is the only strategy for addressing it, so knowing more about the condition is vital.
Symptoms and risk factors
Besides, the problem with glaucoma is that there could be no initial signs showing that you have the disease. With the progression of the disease, your side vision (peripheral vision) starts deteriorating, and it feels like looking through a tunnel, as shown in the picture below.
This means that you may have difficulty seeing objects to the side, above, and below your central field of vision. There are also later stages, which may, in addition, involve central vision, and you may lose complete, untreatable vision loss.
Risk factors
People at higher risk for glaucoma include:
- Those over 60 years old
- Family history of glaucoma.
- Asians and African ethnicity are at higher risk, especially angle closure glaucoma.
- Those who are suffering from high intraocular pressure or have other diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension.
- Poor blood circulation, eye injuries, and people with thin cornea.
Diagnosis and Treatment
This disease can be detected during a comprehensive eye examination, in which the examiner may perform specific tests, and medical history plays a crucial role.
Some of the tests include:
- Tonometry: where the examiner measures the eye pressure, called intraocular pressure.
- Pachymetry: This test measures the thickness of the cornea.
- Perimetry: This is the analysis of your visual fields.
- Goniometry: The examiner looks at the drainage angle of your eye to see if it is closed.
- Fundus Examination: Your examiner looks for any damage to the optic nerve.
Although the disease is virtually untreatable, the treatment’s purpose is to save residual vision by controlling the progress of the disease.
Your ophthalmologist can suggest eye drops, laser treatment, or surgery according to the severity of the disease.
Remember, early detection is key. Regular eye check-ups can help safeguard your vision if you are at risk. By staying proactive and informed, you can take control of your eye health and prevent the progression of glaucoma.
LumiLab guides, webpages, and articles discussing optometry and ophthalmology are intended only for educational and informative purposes and do not serve as medical or professional advice.
The information presented, including but not limited to text, graphics, images, and other material, is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician, optician, or other health care professional if you have questions about your eye health or vision.
Stock image by Freepik – http://www.freepik.com. Stair images by LumiLab
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