Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that usually have a progressive optic neuropathy resulting in a characteristic appearance of optic disc and a specific pattern of irreversible visual field defects that are associated frequently but not invariably with raised intraocular pressure.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
In the early stage of Glaucoma’s patients are asymptomatic and does not usually cause any sign and symptoms to begin with. It typically develops slowly over a period of years and is often detected during routine eye checks. That’s why half of people with Glaucoma don’t even know they have it. However, patients may have following symptoms:
- Headache and Eye ache
- Difficulty in Reading and Close work
- Frequent change of Presbyopic Glasses
- Delayed Dark Adaptation
- Significant Loss of Vision
Treatment for Glaucoma
In early stage, disease can be well controlled but you need to be on the regular follow-up with your Ophthalmologist. Depending upon your eye condition, your Ophthalmologist may prescribe eyedrops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of any of these.
If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, it is important to set a regular schedule of examinations with your eye doctor to monitor your condition and make sure that your prescribed treatment is effectively maintaining a safe eye pressure.
Do you Know?
- Glaucoma can happen in one or both eyes
- Some people with high eye pressure don’t get Glaucoma and there is a type of Glaucoma that happens in people with normal eye pressure
- The amount of eye pressure that’s normal varies by person – what’s normal for one could be higher for another
FAQ about Glaucoma
General
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that usually have a progressive optic neuropathy resulting in a characteristic appearance of optic disc and a specific pattern of irreversible visual field defects that are associated frequently but not invariably with raised intraocular pressure.
Glaucomatous damage is loss of nerve fibers that is particularly apparent at the optic disc. Your ophthalmologists can directly look into it with a special instrument and can assess the extent of damage.
In the early stage of the disease when the first few nerve cells and their extensions are dying, visual function often remains surprisingly intact and patient is unaware of these defects. That is what makes Glaucoma “dangerous”. When the patient becomes aware of the visual field loss, the disease is already in an advanced stage.
It is estimated that nearly 100 million people worldwide have relevant glaucomatous damage, but only half are aware of the damage. It is more common after 40 years of age so it is good to have glaucoma screening regularly after that age.
Hereditary (risk of getting POAG is 10% in siblings and 4% in the offspring of patients), Age (more commonly in elders between 5th and 7th decade), Myopes, Diabetics, Hypertensives, Thyrotoxicosis, Cigarette smoking and Corticosteroid responsiveness.
In the early-stage patients are asymptomatic however patients may have following features: Headache and eye ache, Difficulty in reading and close work, frequent change of presbyopic glasses, Delayed dark adaptation, significant loss of vision.
If untreated then in late stage it may lead to irreversible blindness.
Regular eye checkup after 40 years, IOP measurements, Optic disc evaluation and visual field evaluation. Patient with risk factors should have regular eye checkup.
In early stage, disease can be well controlled with glaucoma medications but you need to be on the regular follow-up for Intraocular pressure measurement and disc evaluations.
Some patients may require surgery.
