GLAUCOMA OF THE EYE

GLAUCOMA OF THE EYE

·         It is a sight-threatening problem wherein the optic nerve, which carries visual information between the eye and the brain, becomes damaged or injured, causing changes in the transmission of visual information resulting in impaired vision.

·         It is the second leading cause of blindness in India, after cataract, affecting any age group, including newborn, infants, children and elderly.

·         It can occur in either or both eyes, though it cannot spread from one eye to the other.

·         Patients with glaucoma may be unaware of any change in their vision until late in the course of the disease as it is a progressive condition.

·         Blindness from glaucoma is irreversible, and its early detection is of utmost importance.

·         Steroid-induced glaucoma is the change in intraocular pressure (eye fluid pressure) due to steroid administration, eventually resulting in damage to the optic nerve.

·         Eye fluid (aqueous humor) nourishes the cornea, iris and lens by circulating, and then draining out of the eye.

·         Increased intraocular pressure due to steroids causes the drainage system to get clogged, thereby increasing the pressure inside the eye, which starts damaging the optic fibre.

INDIVIDUALS AT RISK

·         Over 40 years of age.

·         Those with diabetes, thyroid disease, or hypertension.

·         Those with family history of glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension and short-sightedness.

·         Have received steroid-containing tablets, drops, ointments, puffs or injections.

·         Frequent use of steroid eye drops purchased from chemists without doctor’s diagnosis.

·         Take medication for sleep, anxiety, depression, asthma or parkinsonism.

·         Have had an injury to the face or eye myopia.

SYMPTOMS OF GLAUCOMA

·         Rainbow coloured rings (halos) around bright light.

·         Headaches.

·         Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription.

·         Difficulty in driving.

TREATMENT

·         As glaucoma is a progressive eye disease, the course of treatment is lifelong.

·         Like diabetes, if the treatment is left midway, the condition worsens.

·         There are 2 types of glaucoma – open angle and closed angle.

·         In open angle glaucoma, resistance to the flow of eye fluid is increased, while in closed angle glaucoma, there is physical obstruction to the flow of eye fluid.

·         On an average, closed angle glaucoma patients are nearly 10 years younger than the open angle patients, with a greater damage.

·         By the time a patient is detected to be having glaucoma, 90% have lost 50% of their eyesight.

·         Opting for periodic glaucoma screening early in life can help in starting treatments early to improve the chance of halting and slowing down the continuous damage significantly.