Glaucoma
What Is Glaucoma
- Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends visual information from your eye to your brain and is vital for good vision. Damage to the optic nerve is often related to high pressure in your eye. But glaucoma can happen even with normal eye pressure..
- Vision loss from glaucoma usually begins with peripheral vision (side vision) and can gradually progress to central vision.
- Glaucoma is more common in people over the age of 60, but it can also occur in younger people, including infants and children.
- In addition to eye pressure and other risk factors, certain lifestyle factors may play a role in glaucoma development, such as smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity.
- Glaucoma cannot be cured, but early detection and treatment can slow or stop its progression and prevent further vision loss.
- If you have glaucoma, it’s important to protect your eyes from injury and to avoid activities that increase eye pressure, such as heavy lifting or straining during bowel movements.
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Symptoms of Glaucoma
The symptoms of glaucoma can vary depending on the type and stage of the condition. Here are some common symptoms associated with different types of glaucoma:
Open-angle glaucoma:
- No symptoms in the early stages
- Gradual development of blind spots in your side vision, also known as peripheral vision
- Difficulty seeing things in your central vision in later stages
Acute angle-closure glaucoma:
- Severe headache
- Severe eye pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Halos or colored rings around lights
- Eye redness
Normal-tension glaucoma:
- No symptoms in the early stages
- Gradual blurring of vision over time
- Loss of side vision in later stages
Congenital glaucoma (glaucoma in children):
- Cloudy or dull-looking eye in infants
- Increased blinking in infants
- Excessive tearing without crying in infants
- Blurred vision
- Nearsightedness that gets worse over time
- Headache
Pigmentary glaucoma:
- Halos around lights
- Blurred vision, especially during or after exercise
- Gradual loss of side vision
Causes of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss or blindness. Here are some of the common causes of glaucoma:
- Elevated intraocular pressure: The most common cause of glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP). When IOP is too high, it can damage the optic nerve over time, leading to vision loss.
- Age: Glaucoma is more common in older adults, especially those over the age of 60.
- Family history: Glaucoma tends to run in families, so if you have a family member with glaucoma, you may be at higher risk of developing the condition.
- Ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups, including African Americans and Hispanics, are at higher risk of developing glaucoma.
- Other medical conditions: Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease may increase your risk of developing glaucoma.
- Trauma or injury to the eye: Trauma or injury to the eye may damage the optic nerve and increase your risk of developing glaucoma.
- Prolonged use of corticosteroids: Long-term use of corticosteroid medications, especially eye drops, can increase your risk of developing certain types of glaucoma.
Risk factors
There are several risk factors that may increase your likelihood of developing glaucoma. Some of the common risk factors for glaucoma include:
- Age: The risk of developing glaucoma increases as you get older, especially after the age of 60.
- Family history: If you have a family history of glaucoma, you may be at higher risk of developing the condition yourself.
- Ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, have a higher risk of developing glaucoma.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, may increase your risk of developing glaucoma.
- Eye conditions: Other eye conditions, such as nearsightedness, eye injuries, and certain types of corneal dystrophy, may increase your risk of developing glaucoma.
- Prolonged use of corticosteroids: Long-term use of corticosteroid medications, especially eye drops, can increase your risk of developing certain types of glaucoma.
- Elevated intraocular pressure: High intraocular pressure, or pressure within the eye, is a major risk factor for glaucoma.
Prevention
These steps may help detect and manage glaucoma in its early stages. That may help to prevent vision loss or slow its progress.
- Regular eye exams: Regular eye exams, especially if you have a family history of glaucoma or other risk factors, can help detect the condition early, when treatment is most effective.
- Manage medical conditions: If you have other medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s important to manage them carefully to reduce your risk of developing glaucoma.
- Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can help lower intraocular pressure and improve blood flow to the eyes, which may reduce your risk of developing glaucoma.
- Protect your eyes: Wear protective eyewear, such as goggles or safety glasses, when playing sports or engaging in activities that could cause eye injury.
- Quit smoking: Smoking can increase your risk of developing glaucoma and other eye diseases, so quitting smoking may help reduce your risk.
- Eat a healthy diet: Eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help reduce your risk of developing glaucoma and other eye diseases.
Treatment for glaucoma
St. Theresa’s Hospital in Hyderabad, is a multi-specialty hospital that offers a range of medical services, including ophthalmology services for the treatment of glaucoma.
The treatment for glaucoma depends on the type and severity of the condition. The goal of treatment is to lower the intraocular pressure, which can slow or prevent further damage to the optic nerve. Treatment options for glaucoma include:- Eye drops: Medications in the form of eye drops are often the first line of treatment for glaucoma. These medications work by reducing the production of fluid in the eye or increasing the outflow of fluid. Eye drops are usually used on a long-term basis and require regular monitoring.
- Oral medications: In some cases, oral medications may be prescribed to lower intraocular pressure. These medications are often used in conjunction with eye drops.
- Laser therapy: Laser trabeculoplasty is a type of laser therapy that can help improve the outflow of fluid from the eye, reducing intraocular pressure.
- Surgery: If medications and laser therapy are not effective, surgery may be necessary to lower intraocular pressure. There are several surgical procedures available for glaucoma, including trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage implants, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).