What is Glaucoma ? | symptoms | causes | risk factors | prevention | treatment

Glaucoma is a group of eye disease which damage the optic nerve. The leading cause of this is due to abnormally high pressure in your eye.

Which defects your visual field.

Medical team

Glaucoma is a term used to describe a group of the disease of the eye characterized by progressive and irreversible damage of the optic nerve, increase in IOP and visual field defects 

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over 55 years old. It can not be treated permanently.

It can cause at any age but it is common in aged people.

Etiology

• Congenital / Development Glaucoma

1. Primary congenital glaucoma
2. Developmental glaucoma

• Primary adult glaucoma

1. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)
2. Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG)
3. Primary mixed mechanism glaucoma 

•  Secondary glaucoma

Tried of Glaucoma

1. Intraocular pressure
2. Optic nerve damage
3. Disc change

Normal aqueous humour is 2.3

Ciliary body produced aqueous humour which drainage from the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber from the gap of iris and lens in the iridocorneal angle which is drainage by 

• Trabecular meshwork 
• Schlemm's cand
• Collector channels

Symptoms and signs

Sign and symptoms of glaucoma vary depending on the type and stage of your condition.

Open angle glaucoma

1. Patchy blind spot in your side (peripheral) or central vision, frequently in both eye.
2. Tunnel vision in the advanced stages.
3. Mild headache and eye-ache
4. Difficulty in reading and doing close work frequent change in presbyopic glasses.
5. Delayed dark adaptation 
6. Scotoma (defect in the visual field)
7. Significant loss of vision and blindness is the result of untreated cases of POAG.
   
   

Acute angle closure glaucoma

1. Severe headache
2. Eye pain
3. Nausea and vomiting
4. Blurred vision
5. Halos around lights
6. Eye redness

If it is untreated, glaucoma may cause blindness. Even with treatment, about 20% of people with glaucoma become blind in with one eyes within 20 years.

Causes

Systemic (POAG)

1. Diabetes
2. High BP
3. Cigarette smoking
4. Thyrotoxicosis
5. Corticosteroids responsive

Ocular Causes

1. High IOP
2. Myopic Eye

Age & Race

In the research, it is found that Glaucoma is increased by age. As if age is increased glaucoma is also increased.

It is more severe in Blacks then White is a subset of glaucoma defined by an open, normal-appearing anterior chamber angle and raised intraocular pressure (IOP), with no other underlying disease. 

Angle closure Glaucoma

Angle closure glaucoma is also known as closed angle glaucoma. It causes when the iris bulges forward to narrow or block the drainage angle.

As a result, fluid cannot circulate through the eye and the pressure increases. In Some case people may have narrow drainage angles, putting them at increased risk of angle-closure glaucoma.

Glaucoma in children

It is also possible that infant and children to have glaucoma. It can be present from birth or develop in the first few years of life. The optic nerve damage can be caused by the drainage blockages or any underlying medical condition.

When to see doctor

If you notice any of these symptoms or if you have family history you have to visit hospital. But it is good to check your eyes every after 6 months.

Risk factors

1. High internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
2. Person over age 55
3. For black, asian or Hispanic
4. Family history of glaucoma
5. Medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia.
6. Cornea that are thin in the center
7. If you have any eye injury or certain types of eye surgery
8. Taking corticosteroid medication, especially eye drops for long periods of time.

Prevention

1. Get regular dilated eye examinations : It will help you to detect glaucoma in the early stages, before damaging your eyes.
2. Keep your family's eye health history : Of have family history of glaucoma it will increase your risk of heredity transfer. So, you need to be aware.
3. Exercise regularly : Regular exercise may help to prevent glaucoma by reducing eye pressure.
4. Take prescribed eye drops regularly : Glaucoma eye drops can reduce the risk factor of high eye pressure. The eye drops prescribed by your doctor need to be used regular even if you do not have any symptoms 
5. Wear eye protection : If you have serious eye injuries that may also lead to glaucoma. Wear eye protection when you do risk works.
6. If you have any other disease in your body like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure then it will be best to control your diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. Which also prevent your glaucoma.

Diagnosis

You doctor may diagnosed by:

1. It can be diagnosed by schiotz tonometry by measuring intraocular pressure of your eyes.
2. Optic nerve testing with a dilated eye examinations
3. Checking for areas of vision loss by visual field test called AVF and HVF
4. Measuring corneal thickness by pachymetry
5. Inspecting the drainage angle by gonioscopy.

Treatment

• Eye drop

1. Timolol
2. Betaxolol
3. Betablocker
4. Pilocarpine, etc

• Oral medication
• Laser Surgery

1. Trabeculoplasty
2. Iridotomy
3. Cyclophotocoagulation

• Microsurgery 

 Our eyes are very sensitive and It is better to take care of your eye. Do check-up regularly. Be healthy 

Written by Barsha Panth