A Comprehensive Guide to Glaucoma: Its Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that harms the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for clear vision. The condition puts unusually high pressure on your eye, which gradually weakens your optic nerve. Currently, it is the most common cause of blindness, and typically strikes people after the age of 40, right around the time when visual prowess begins to decline.
Afraid that you might have glaucoma? Well, before you begin searching for an ‘eye hospital near me,’’ here’s a Comprehensive Guide to Glaucoma to help you understand the ins and outs of the condition.
Why is Optic Nerve Important?
The Optic Nerve is the bridge between your eyes and brain, where signals travel to and fro to facilitate what we call vision. Glaucoma can be considered a condition that weakens this bridge, and can even result in complete collapse if not treated promptly.
First Signs of Glaucoma:
- The loss of side or peripheral vision is commonly the first noticeable symptom
- Rainbow-colored halos around the light
- Eye redness can be caused by either pain, injury, infection, or acute glaucoma.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headaches, particularly on the side where you are experiencing eye pain.
- Having poor vision, blurry vision, tunnel vision, or blind spots.
Arohi Eye Hospital, which houses the top glaucoma specialist in Mumbai, can help you learn more about the possible glaucoma symptoms and assist you with treatment.
Also Read: Eye Care in Old Age: How to Improve Vision in Your 40s and 50s?
Types of Glaucoma:
Glaucoma comes in many shapes and forms. Here are the most common variants:
Open Angle Glaucoma
It is the most common type of glaucoma, which develops so slowly and painlessly that, by the time you know it, the damage has already been done. It happens when microparticles gather and gradually clog the drainage canals of the eye.
For the time being, the canals will seem open and to be operating smoothly. However, with time, the deposits lead to fluid buildup and strain on the optic nerve.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Angle-Closure Glaucoma (ACG), also known as acute, chronic, or narrow-angle glaucoma, is caused by a sudden increase in pressure inside the eye i.e., intraocular pressure (IOP). Red eyes, headaches, discomfort, nausea, vomiting as well as blurred vision are some of the common symptoms.
Blindness can occur if treatment is postponed. While early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the extent of visual loss, the best course of action is to prevent it in sensitive individuals.
Arohi Eye Hospital is a trustworthy eye hospital in Mumbai. So, reach out to us to get the best possible treatment.
Who might get Glaucoma?
Glaucoma can affect everyone, regardless of age or gender. However, with age, the risk significantly increases. It may develop in some people who have an eye injury or a family history of the disease. It also includes high blood pressure, heart disease, or sickle cell anemia patients.
Moreover, a diabetic person is 2 times more likely to get glaucoma than people without diabetes.
Lastly, it also affects people who frequently consume medication to treat seizures or bladder control, as well as those who have corneas thinner than they should be.
Glaucoma Diagnosis
Tests for glaucoma are quick and painless. Your medical history will be examined by your doctor who will perform a complete eye examination, which includes:
- Imaging studies and dilated eye examinations to check for optic nerve damage.
- Visual Field Test: examining any potential blind spots.
- Tonometry: Measuring the pressure inside the eye.
- Pachymetry: The measurement of corneal thickness.
- Gonioscopy: The examination of the drainage angle.
Do you need Glaucoma treatment?
Whether you need the treatment or not, depends on your diagnosis, for which you’ll have to visit an opthalmologist.
But don’t know any ophthalmologists near you. Don’t worry, Arohi Eye Hospital is the leading eye care center and has the best ophthalmologist in Mumbai. Visit today for a fool-proof diagnosis.
Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma can be managed in several ways, including:
- Eye Drops: These will slow down the amount of fluid in your eyes or speed up its drainage, relieving eye pressure. Before getting any medication, consult an optometrist regarding your medical history because there could be possible side effects from these drugs.
- Oral medication: If eyedrops by themselves are unable to lower your eye pressure down to the recommended level, your doctor might also suggest an oral drug, typically a beta-blocker or a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. These medications can facilitate fluid drainage or inhibit fluid production in your eye.
- Filtering surgery: In this procedure, a hole is made in the sclera, the white of the eye, and a portion of the trabecular meshwork is removed via a surgical procedure known as a trabeculectomy.
Conclusion
Although there is no available cure for Glaucoma, there are ways to manage eye pressure and avoid visual loss. With the information provided above, you can make an informed decision on whether you need glaucoma treatment or not.
If you see any early symptoms of glaucoma, consult an eye doctor right away! Choose Arohi Eye Hospital as your eye-care partner, and experience a clear, unrestricted vision, free of any anomalies. Connect with us today to learn more about our services, or to book an appointment.
