Consult Super-Specialist Doctors at CARE Hospitals
Updated on 20 March 2023
There are many types of eye diseases that endanger our eyesight. Glaucoma is one of those medical conditions that can damage the optic nerve, a vital part assisting us in seeing. Our optic nerve passes the visual images from your eyes to the brain.
When the intraocular pressure increases in the eye, it damages the optic nerve. The damaged optic nerve can affect vision or, in some cases, can lead to blindness. Glaucoma could be a hereditary condition running in a family. However, an individual suffers from this condition only later in their life.
Let’s learn more about Glaucoma.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is seen mostly in patients with glaucoma. It gradually progresses into vision loss, other than that it does not have any signs or symptoms. If you find any changes in your vision, you should consult an eye specialist to identify the reasons. Some signs and symptoms of glaucoma that a person may face are:
The back of the eye produces a clear fluid known as aqueous humour. The front part of the eye is filled with this fluid. It flows out of the eye through channels. If these channels are slightly or completely blocked, the fluid starts building up as the eyes start producing too much of it. This disturbs the natural pressure in the eye or the intraocular pressure. Once the pressure increases, it damages the optic nerve and the progression of this damage results in losing eyesight.
Glaucoma can be an inherited condition or else it could occur due to high blood pressure, eye infection, blocked drainage in the eye, inflammation, etc. It is believed that sometimes an eye surgery done for some other reason may cause glaucoma, though it so happens very rarely.
The diagnosis does not take too much time and it is not painful. The ophthalmologist puts dilating drops to widen the pupils so that the eyes can be examined. The optic nerve is checked for the probability of glaucoma. Photographs are taken for future visits.
Tonometry, a test to check eye pressure is done along with a visual field test to check the loss of peripheral vision. If the doctor feels that you have glaucoma, you may be advised to get a special imaging test of the optic nerve.
The treatment of glaucoma usually includes eye drops and oral medications. The doctor may also advise you for laser surgery or microsurgery for lowering the fluid pressure in your eye if required.
Microsurgery-A new channel is made by the doctor known as trabeculectomy to drain the fluid. This procedure mostly needs to be repeated. There are some risks associated with this procedure like bleeding, infection, and temporary vision loss.
If you feel like either or both of your eyes have any serious trouble, immediately see your ophthalmologist and get them checked. Take the prescribed medicines regularly and follow the instructions given by the doctor including the follow-up visits. The health of your eyes matters and even when you do not have problems, you should get them checked once every 2-3 years.
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