Glaucoma is a common eye disease that damages the optic nerve. This major nerve connects the eye to the brain and is responsible for sending visual information, making it one of the most important nerves in the body. Glaucoma causes fluid build-up in the front part of the eye, damaging the optic nerve and resulting in blurry vision and even blindness in some cases.
Many forms of glaucoma disease don’t have any warning signs. It gradually affects the eye and develops changes in vision until the condition is in its final stages.
The symptoms of Glaucoma depend on its type and stage.
Open Angle Glaucoma: This type of glaucoma appears in the open angle anterior chamber and causes elevated intraocular pressure. It is most common in Africa, almost 10,000 people out of 1 million are affected by it. Some of the symptoms include:
Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: This form of glaucoma occurs when the fluid in the eyes can’t drain properly. It causes severe eye pain or headache with blurred vision. Its symptoms can be:
Glaucoma in Children: Glaucoma is rare in infants, but it can be genetic and caused by the incomplete or impaired development of the eye-drainage system before birth. Symptoms include:
Pigmentary Glaucoma: This form of secondary open-angle glaucoma with heavy homogeneous pigmentation of the trabecular meshwork. It also causes iris transillumination defects. Some of the common symptoms of this type are:
There are several causes of glaucoma, mainly due to the build-up of fluid that increases intraocular pressure. Some of the common causes are:
Glaucoma can severely damage a person’s vision before the appearance of any symptoms, so be attentive to these risk factors:
To diagnose this condition, a healthcare provider will take a complete family history of the patient and order a comprehensive eye examination. There will be several tests, including:
Don’t delay treatment because severe glaucoma can cause complete blindness in patients.
It’s impossible to reverse any loss of vision, but there are certain treatments that can be helpful in controlling the damage. Some common treatments include using eye drops to reduce pressure on the optic nerve, laser treatments that can open up the blockage of the drainage tubes, and surgery to improve and reduce the drainage of fluid.
You can also take care of your eyes by maintaining a healthy weight, controlling your blood pressure, avoiding smoking, and exercising to be physically active. Make sure to have regular eye examinations for the prevention of this condition. An eye examination will help to detect glaucoma in its early stages.