Glaucoma Simplified

Dr. Irene Rose Joy,

Resident Ophthalmologist in Acchutha Eye Care, Errode

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye  disease that damages your nerves of your eye, It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye causing damaging the nerves of the eye.

What are the types of glaucoma?

There are two major types of glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma

This is the most common type of glaucoma. It happens gradually, where the eye does not drain fluid as well as it should (like a clogged drain). As a result, eye pressure builds and starts to damage the nerve . This type of glaucoma is painless and causes no vision changes at first. But slowly the can develop blindness if left untreated

Angle-closure glaucoma  

This type happens when there is  blocking in the drainage of fluids of eye. You can think of it like a piece of paper sliding over a sink drain.  

• You have severe eye pain
• You have a headache
• Your vision is suddenly blurry
• You feel sick or vomit

Angle-closure glaucoma can cause blindness if not treated right away.

Are you at  Risk for Glaucoma?

Some people have a higher than normal risk of getting glaucoma. This includes people who:

• Age more than 40 years
• have family members with glaucoma
• has  nearsighted
• had eye injury in past
• use long-term steroid medications
• have corneas that are thin in the center
• have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation or other health problems affecting the whole body

Talk with an eye specialist or your physician about your risk for getting glaucoma. People with more than one of these risk factors have an even higher risk of glaucoma.

How can we Diagnose glaucoma ?

The only sure way to diagnose glaucoma is with a complete eye exam. A glaucoma screening that only checks eye pressure is not enough to find glaucoma.

During a glaucoma exam, your doctor  will:

• measure your eye pressure
• check your eye’s drainage  
• Check the nerves of your eye
• test your  vision completely
• take a picture or computer measurement of nerves of your eye
• measure the thickness of your cornea

Glaucoma is a silent thief of sight

Glaucoma may not  have any symptoms in its early stages.  In fact, half the people with glaucoma do not know they have it!

 Having regular eye check  up can help your diagnose glaucoma early

Can Glaucoma Be Stopped? 

The damage caused by Glaucoma is permanent—it cannot be reversed.  

But medicine and surgery help to stop further damage.

What is your role in  Glaucoma Treatment ?

Treating glaucoma successfully is a team effort between you and your doctor.   Regular follow up with your treating eye doctor is very important to prevent progression of the disease.  

If any of your family members already have glaucoma you should visit an eye specialist and verify if you too have glaucoma.

Click here to read more on Malayalam Article on Glaucoma