Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease in which fluid pressure rises within your eyes, thereby, damaging the optic nerve and leading to vision loss or even blindness. Glaucoma generally affects both eyes and most commonly occurs in adults.

What causes Glaucoma?

When high fluid pressure builds up in your eye, the liquid in the front of your eye doesn’t circulate effectively leading to Glaucoma. There are many reasons responsible for this, such as:

• Inherited disorder
• Blunt/chemical injury to eye
• Severe eye infection
• Blocked blood vessels in eye
• Inflammatory conditions
• Eye surgery done to correct other problem

What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?

One may not experience any symptoms in the initial stages and show them only when the disease has progressed to advanced stage. The symptoms depend on the type of Glaucoma you have.

ForOpen AngleGlaucoma, the symptoms are:

• Gradual loss of peripheral vision
• Tunnel vision occurring in advanced stages

For Acute angle-closure Glaucoma, the symptoms are:

• Sudden blurred vision
• Severe eye pain
• Severe headache
• Nausea & vomiting
• Halos around light

How can Glaucoma be treated?

The treatment for Glaucoma can’t reverse the damage caused by the disease. However, it can slow down or prevent the further progression of the disease. Various treatment options include:

• Eye drops
• Oral medications
• Surgery: Laser surgery, Filtering surgery, Drainage tubes and Electrocautery
• Periodic follow up is required.Minimum 3 days of rest is required for heeling.