Eye Health and Care: Glaucoma is an eye condition which, if ignored, can lead to permanent blindness. The optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain, is damaged by the condition. If left untreated, glaucoma can gradually lead to loss of peripheral vision and eventually blindness. Glaucoma usually progresses slowly over time.
A condition called elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which is one of the leading causes of blindness, and is most often diagnosed in people over the age of 60, is a type of glaucoma caused by increased pressure inside the eye. Is. Low brain pressure can increase the risk of having this condition.
According to the National Health Portal, “Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness globally after cataract. It is estimated to cause blindness in 4.5 million people worldwide, while India has 1.2 out of 12 million people with glaucoma as of 2012.” According to statistics millions of people go blind due to this disease. Despite this, glaucoma remains largely undiagnosed, with more than 90 percent of cases untreated. This has become a growing cause of concern for the country. A progressive and Blindness being an irreversible condition, early detection and management is of utmost importance.”
Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma
Glaucoma damage is irreversible, so you need early detection and treatment to prevent blindness.
With any type of glaucoma, you may experience:
Pain or pressure in the eyes.
– Headache
– Rainbow colored halo around the lights.
Decreased vision, blurred vision, narrowed vision (tunnel vision) or blind spots.
– nausea and vomiting.
– Red eyes.
Dr JC Das, Senior Most Glaucoma Specialist says, “The current awareness and knowledge on glaucoma needs to be further increased to ensure that people include eye exams in their routine health check-ups. The patient should visit an ophthalmologist as soon as he experiences intermediate symptoms such as eye pain or blurred vision. This will lead to early intervention by an ophthalmologist and timely adoption of an appropriate treatment regimen.
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What are the causes of Glaucoma?
Glaucoma can develop for no known reason, but many things can affect it. Intraocular eye pressure is the most important of these variables. Aqueous humor, which is produced by your eyes, nourishes them. This fluid travels through your pupil to the front of your eye. Fluid leaves your eye through drainage canals between your iris and cornea in a healthy eye.
What are the risk factors for glaucoma?
Dr. Sunita Dubey, Medical Director, Director of Glaucoma Services and Chairperson-Quality Assurance of Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, talks about the common risk factors of Glaucoma, “Various factors can contribute to the development of Glaucoma. In general, an average person has a 2.3% risk of developing glaucoma during their lifetime. However, some factors can significantly increase the risk of developing glaucoma.”
“One of the most important risk factors is genetics, as individuals with a parent or sibling with glaucoma have a tenfold increased risk of developing the disease. Other factors that may increase the risk of developing glaucoma include: These include medical conditions such as short- or long-sightedness, high blood pressure, diabetes, or having undergone certain eye surgeries. Age is also an important risk factor, with the risk of glaucoma increasing significantly after the age of 60. Another A very important factor is the use of steroids be it an eyedrop or systemic use. By understanding the various risk factors associated with glaucoma, individuals can take proactive steps to reduce their risk,” Dr Sunita further mentions.
preventive care for cataracts
The best way to maintain the health of your eyes and prevent vision loss is through regular eye exams and early glaucoma screening.
Vision loss can be prevented with proper and timely treatment. Regular preventive eye exams with an ophthalmologist are advised.
Adding on the measures to be taken, Dr Deven Tuli, Senior Consultant, Glaucoma at ASG Narang Eye Center in New Delhi said, “While there is no preventive treatment for Glaucoma apart from regular eye check-ups, you can take some measures for your management eye health. This includes taking essential vitamins and minerals for good eye health (such as zinc, copper, selenium, and vitamins A, C, and E), proper exercise (after consulting your doctor), Limiting caffeine intake, drinking plenty of fluids, sleeping with your head raised and following your medication schedule strictly.
Early detection and treatment of glaucoma
Untreated glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss or the rapid development of blindness. Treatments can prevent more vision loss, but they can’t make up for it. If you experience eye pain, excruciating headaches, or vision problems, it’s important to see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
It is necessary to emphasize the need for annual eye exams to detect glaucoma early and prevent visual loss. Highlighting the importance of timely intervention, Dr. Rishi Jain, Medical Director, Allergen AbbVie Company said, “Early detection is the key to prevent vision loss, as once lost it cannot be recovered . Visit an ophthalmologist at least once every two years to get your eyes checked.”
“Early symptoms of glaucoma can usually be detected during an eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, and perimetry may include increased eye pressure (tonometry), optic nerve damage (ophthalmometry), and vision loss (perimetry). There are simple tests to detect it. In addition, your doctor may perform other procedures, such as gonioscopy and pachymetry, which measure the angle between the cornea and the iris.
When to consult a doctor?
You should call your family doctor or a health care professional if you experience:
Blurred or reduced vision.
Hello, eye floaters or flashers.
Sudden, severe eye pain or headache.
– Sensitivity to light.
– vision loss.