Glaucoma, being the leading cause of blindness in world population today, occur as result of high pressure on the eye, which is characterized by the presence of fluid on the eyeball.
A glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the eye's optic nerve (optic nerve is responsible for visual information to the brain from the eye) which can result to vision loss and total blindless if left unattended to immediately you discover it.
According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, there are two most common forms of glaucoma - Primary Open-Angle glaucoma (POAG) and Angle-Closure glaucoma (ACG). The Primary Open-Angle glaucoma is the common type of glaucoma among the two, it has known early warning signs or symptoms expect the gradual loss of vision. In open-angle glaucoma, it can be genetic, which can increase the risk of having POAG. So it advisable to visit your eye doctor for further treatment, if glaucoma run in the family history. For Angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) which is also known as narrow-angle glaucoma, which if detected, it advisable to see your doctor "immediately" if you experience any of the following symptoms:
What Causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that damage the optic nerve, which can affect both sexes be it an infant, older people etc, which is as a result of high fluid pressure inside the eye. The back of our eyes produce a fluid called Aqueous humor (a transparent watery fluid, that nourish the cornea and the lens by supplying nutrition such as amino acid) flows out of the eye through a mesh-like channel. If this mesh-like channel gets blocked or partially obstruct, then the pressure in the eye called intraocular pressure (IOP) builds-up, which may result in the optic nerve becoming damaged. And as a result of the scenario, losing of sight occurs.
Note: According to the National Eye Institute, the increased pressure in the eye my necessarily not develop into glaucoma. The reason is that some people can tolerate higher levels of eye pressure better than others. Also, the National Eye Institute stated: "whether you develop glaucoma depends on the level of pressure your optic nerve can tolerate without being damaged".
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your eye doctor will use drops to open (he’ll call it to dilate) your pupils. Then he’ll test your vision and examine your eyes. He’ll check your optic nerve, and if you have glaucoma, it will look a certain way. He may take photographs of the nerve to help him track your disease over time. The doctor will carry out a test called tonometry to check your eye pressure. He’ll also do a visual field test, if necessary, to figure out if you've lost your side, or peripheral, vision. Glaucoma tests are painless and take very little time.
Treatment
The goal to achieve when treating glaucoma is to avoid glaucomatous damage and nerve damage and to preserve visual field and total quality of life for patients with minimal side effects. If glaucoma is detected earlier, it can be managed before it becomes too late.
Taking medications regularly as prescribed, is crucial to prevent vision-threatening damages. And some of the drugs or medications in which doctors prescribed are, eye drops, pills, surgical procedures which are to be performed by your ophthalmologist and the surgery that may be suggested are laser surgery, Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT)- for open-angle glaucoma, selective laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)- open-angle glaucoma, Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI)- for angle-closure glaucoma, Cycloablation. There is also tradition surgery which can be performed for patients with glaucoma, they are Trabeculectomy, Drainage Implant surgery, Nonpenetrating surgery.
A glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the eye's optic nerve (optic nerve is responsible for visual information to the brain from the eye) which can result to vision loss and total blindless if left unattended to immediately you discover it.
- Hazy or blurred vision
- The appearance of the rainbow-coloured circles around bright lights
- Severe eye and head pain
- Nausea or vomiting (accompanying severe eye pain)
- Sudden sight loss
What Causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that damage the optic nerve, which can affect both sexes be it an infant, older people etc, which is as a result of high fluid pressure inside the eye. The back of our eyes produce a fluid called Aqueous humor (a transparent watery fluid, that nourish the cornea and the lens by supplying nutrition such as amino acid) flows out of the eye through a mesh-like channel. If this mesh-like channel gets blocked or partially obstruct, then the pressure in the eye called intraocular pressure (IOP) builds-up, which may result in the optic nerve becoming damaged. And as a result of the scenario, losing of sight occurs.
Note: According to the National Eye Institute, the increased pressure in the eye my necessarily not develop into glaucoma. The reason is that some people can tolerate higher levels of eye pressure better than others. Also, the National Eye Institute stated: "whether you develop glaucoma depends on the level of pressure your optic nerve can tolerate without being damaged".
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your eye doctor will use drops to open (he’ll call it to dilate) your pupils. Then he’ll test your vision and examine your eyes. He’ll check your optic nerve, and if you have glaucoma, it will look a certain way. He may take photographs of the nerve to help him track your disease over time. The doctor will carry out a test called tonometry to check your eye pressure. He’ll also do a visual field test, if necessary, to figure out if you've lost your side, or peripheral, vision. Glaucoma tests are painless and take very little time.
Treatment
The goal to achieve when treating glaucoma is to avoid glaucomatous damage and nerve damage and to preserve visual field and total quality of life for patients with minimal side effects. If glaucoma is detected earlier, it can be managed before it becomes too late.
Taking medications regularly as prescribed, is crucial to prevent vision-threatening damages. And some of the drugs or medications in which doctors prescribed are, eye drops, pills, surgical procedures which are to be performed by your ophthalmologist and the surgery that may be suggested are laser surgery, Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT)- for open-angle glaucoma, selective laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)- open-angle glaucoma, Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI)- for angle-closure glaucoma, Cycloablation. There is also tradition surgery which can be performed for patients with glaucoma, they are Trabeculectomy, Drainage Implant surgery, Nonpenetrating surgery.
Glaucoma:Types, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Reviewed by Ridwan
on
August 23, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Ridwan
on
August 23, 2018
Rating:
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