What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that harms the optic nerves of your retina, which is the nerve accountable for transmitting images to your brain. When fluids proceed to build up in the front part of the eye, it causes pressure in the eyes which later injures the optic nerve. If this injury occurs, glaucoma can cause long-lasting vision loss and without treatment, can cause total permanent blindness with some years. Glaucoma is almost common as it is most likely to affect white people after the age of 60 and black and Hispanic people following the age of 40.
Causes
The expert does not know precisely what causes glaucoma, but unusual health conditions increase the risk. If a person has primary glaucoma, there is no identifiable etiology. If they have secondary glaucoma there is an underlying condition, such as a tumor, diabetes, hypothyroidism, an advanced cataract, or inflammation.
As this nerve slowly deteriorates, blind spots develop in your visual field. For reasons that doctors don’t fully know, this nerve damage is usually related to raised pressure in the eye.
Symptoms
The sign and symptoms of glaucoma vary based on the type and stage of your condition like:’
Open-angle glaucoma
- Patchy blind spots in your view or central vision, frequently in both eyes.
- Tunnel vision in the high-level stages
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
- Severe headache
- Eye pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Eye redness
If left untreated, glaucoma will ultimately cause blindness. Even with treatment, about 15% of people with glaucoma enhance blind in at least one eye within 20 years.
Treatment
Once glaucoma is diagnosed, the goal is to prevent the progression of vision loss. There are currently three ways for controlling eye pressure.
Glaucoma Eye Drops
Glaucoma eye drops can turn down the faucet of the eye or make the drain of the eye capacity more efficient. This serves to decrease the amount of fluid in the eye and reduces the pressure being placed on your optic nerve and thus ends progressive optic nerve damage.
Glaucoma Laser
A laser may be fired directly into the drain of your eye to try to arouse increase drainage. This helps to lower the amount of fluid in the eye and reduces the pressure being placed on your optic nerve.
Glaucoma Surgery
The chief goal of surgery is to create a new drainage system for the eye. This can not be done by fashioning a trap door on the cover of the eye to allow the pressure and fluid buildup to avoid when there is excess within the eye. This procedure is known as trabeculectomy. Unfortunately, your own body can form scar tissue that may close off his trap door. Therefore, anti-scarring medications may be applied around the trap door during and maybe after surgery in order to limit the trap door from scarring down. Alternatively, a plastic tube can be put into the eye that is connected to an implant that will drain the fluid straight out of the eye. Newer shunting procedures are also possible.
Prevention
These self-care measures can help you to detect glaucoma in its early stages, which is important in stopping vision loss or slowing its progress.
Get Regular Dilated Eye Examinations
Regular complete eye exams can help detect glaucoma in its early stages before important damage occurs. As a general rule, having a complete eye exam every five to 10 years if you are under 40 years old; every 2 to 4 years if you are 40 to 54 years old; every one to three years if you are 55 to 64 years old and very on to two years if you are older than 65. if you are at a chance of glaucoma, you will require more frequent screening.
Know Your Family’s Eye Health History
Glaucoma leads to run in families. If you are at increased risk, you may need more regular screening.
Exercise safely
Regular, moderate exercise may help prevent glaucoma by decreasing eye pressure. Talk with your doctor about a suitable exercise program.
Take Prescribed Eyedrops Regularly
Glaucoma eyedrops can significantly diminish the risk that high eye pressure will progress to glaucoma. To be effective, eyedrops prescribed by your doctor need to be used daily even if you have no symptoms.
Wear Eye Protection
Serious eye injuries can begin glaucoma. wear eye protection when using power tools or playing high-speed racket sports in surrounded courts.
