Glaucoma is a disease that is the result of a number of mechanisms that produce increased pressure within the eye. This elevated eye pressure causes damage to the optic nerve over time. Unfortunately, the damage caused by glaucoma to the optic nerve is irreversible. There are no symptoms associated with most forms of glaucoma, which is why it is also referred to as the ‘silent thief of vision’.
The eye is a vital organ in our body. Like a camera, the eye captures information about shape, colour and movement, and relays it to the brain. The brain then processes this information to enable us to ‘see’ the world.
Glaucoma can be broadly classified into four main categories based on the effect of the internal fluid pressure on the eye, the optic nerve and any defect in the passage of the fluid:
Glaucoma can be divided into four stages as per the ICD-10 classification (International Classification of Diseases):
There are no symptoms associated with most forms of glaucoma, which is why it is also referred to as the ‘silent thief of vision’. In some uncommon forms of the condition, the eye pressure can rise over a short time to a high level and the patient may experience eye pain, redness of the eye and halos around light. They may also experience nausea and vomiting during such an attack which may be caused by being in dim light for a considerable time, e.g. watching a movie. The patient may experience peripheral (side) loss of vision, which may gradually lead to tunnel vision (appearance of looking through a tunnel). Otherwise, most of the varieties of glaucoma may only cause a slowly progressive reduction in the area that a person can see. This happens from outside (peripheral vision) to inside (inner aspects of the eye) and may not be recognised by most patients, as the visual acuity may still remain intact.
Causes
The cause of glaucoma is idiopathic (unknown). There have been attempts to explain the causes with a few theories. These theories revolve around improper drainage of the eye fluid, improper blood supply to the eye or increased intraocular pressure (pressure within the eye). All these theories are used to explain the resulting damage to the optic nerve.
Risk Factors
The following factors can pose a higher risk of getting glaucoma:
There is no way to prevent glaucoma. However, in order to avoid complications like loss of vision, the best way is to detect it early, treat it promptly and monitor it regularly. For early detection of glaucoma, the best method would be to get regular eye examinations. It is suggested that individuals between the age of 18-60 years should get an eye examination done once in two years, while individuals after the 6th decade of life should get an annual eye examination done.
Known as the silent killer of vision, glaucoma can be diagnosed based on the symptoms, which mainly includes changes in vision. To ascertain symptoms a patient’s history, their family history or an account of other contributing factors may be taken. Your ophthalmologist might check eye pressure (intraocular pressure) and also estimate the damage to the optic nerve to detect the condition. The tests that are commonly advised include:
The damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Treatment of glaucoma is aimed at preventing further damage to the eye nerve. The whole purpose of treatment is to keep the eye pressure under control to prevent further loss of vision. More importantly, as the goal of all the treatment modalities is the same, i.e. to control the eye pressure, one method doesn’t surpass the other. For example, surgery for glaucoma may not necessarily score over the use of eye drops and none of them can cure the disease. Each treatment has its own pros and cons.
The treatment for glaucoma involves eye drops, tablets, laser procedures, eye operations or a combination of methods:
Eye drops: Anti-glaucoma eye drops mainly reduce the secretion of eye fluid and thereby reduce the eye pressure. Eye drops may cause a burning or stinging sensation upon application. This is often due to the antibacterial agent present in the drop solution and not due to the drug itself. While it can be uncomfortable, the discomfort lasts for only a few seconds. It is important that you take your medication exactly as it is prescribed if you are to control your eye pressure. For example, drops which are prescribed two times a day usually have ‘duration of action’ of twelve hours. By taking these drops two times spaced through your waking hours, e.g. at 7 am and 7 pm (with maximum variation of 15-30 minutes either way) you ensure that you are covered by the drug´s effectiveness for a full 24-hour period.
Since eye drops are absorbed into the bloodstream, it is important that you tell your doctor about other diseases you might be suffering from and all other medications you are currently taking. Ask your doctor if the medications you are taking together are safe. To minimize absorption into the bloodstream and maximize the amount of drug absorbed into the eye, close your eyes for one to two minutes after administering your drops and press lightly against the nasal corner of your eyelids to close the tear duct that drains into the nose. It is very important to not to miss even a single dose of any medication otherwise the eye pressure can fluctuate between the drop applications and continue to damage the eye nerve.
Tablets: Sometimes, drops are not enough to control the eye pressure. In that case, oral medications may be prescribed in addition to the drops. They do have more side effects compared to the eye drops. Therefore, they are usually prescribed for a short period to control the eye pressure.
Laser procedures: These procedures are advised in certain types of glaucoma. The most common laser procedure performed for angle-closure glaucoma is called laser iridotomy. This procedure takes between one and three minutes, is painless, and is performed on an outpatient basis. The laser beam (a high energy light beam) is directed in the eye. This laser beam leads to certain biological and chemical changes within the eye, which results in better drainage of fluid from the eye, via the ophthalmic drainage meshwork. You can resume normal activities in a short time following the procedure. Your doctor will check your eye pressure one hour later. Your doctor will also determine which anti-glaucoma medications are necessary for you after the procedure. The possible complications of the laser procedure are minimal and rare.
Surgery: The most common anti-glaucoma operation is called trabeculectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon removes a small section of the eye wall to facilitate drainage of the eye fluid. This procedure, done on an outpatient basis, is usually done after giving an anaesthetic injection around the eye. The doctor will see you on the day after the operation to check your vision and eye pressure. Although trabeculectomy is a relatively safe surgery, complications do occur. Therefore, the surgery is judiciously advised. After trabeculectomy, most patients are able to discontinue all anti-glaucoma medications. A few patients may require additional surgery.
The process of managing glaucoma doesn’t end by treating the patients alone. Glaucoma appears to run in families. The tendency for developing glaucoma may be inherited. Therefore, it is advisable to take your close relatives for glaucoma check-ups.
Apart from medication and surgery, altering one’s lifestyle can reduce complications such as the loss of vision due to glaucoma. The following lifestyle modifications can be incorporated:
Prognosis
With adequate and prompt treatment, glaucoma can be treated and complications such as the loss of vision can be prevented. In cases of acute glaucoma, early treatment can restore your eyesight to pre-glaucoma status. However, if neglected, you may experience loss of vision in the affected eye within two days of ignoring the problem.
Complications
Visual impairment and blindness can occur if glaucoma is not treated promptly and correctly.
Meditation, acupuncture and exercise have been found to reduce intraocular pressure and visual field acuity to a small extent. These alternative treatment modalities can also help keep stress at bay and maintain healthy body weight to reduce glaucoma complications.
More than 90 per cent of glaucoma cases remain undiagnosed and untreated. Celebrating World Glaucoma Week, renowned eye experts highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of the disease to prevent vision loss.
Glaucoma is a 'silent thief of sight'. This World Glaucoma Week, let's spread awareness about Glaucoma and remove the misconceptions associated with it.
According to reports, there are 11.9 million cases of glaucoma in India.
Myopia is on the rise, and it is predicted that nearly 50 per cent of the global population will be myopic by 2050.
Did you know that diabetes can almost put you at risk of losing your eyesight? Experts suggest that you need to keep your blood glucose levels in control to reduce the risk of glaucoma.
The most common cause of Glaucoma is hereditary, meaning it runs in the family. But the most important causative factor that is preventable is steroid use.
As World Glaucoma Day is approaching, let's understand the causes of this disease and how we can prevent it or reduce the risk.
A new study says that frequent caffeine intake may triple your risk of glaucoma if you are genetically predisposed to higher eye pressure. Read on to know more.
Glaucoma cannot be cured but timely intervention can help you prevent irreversible vision loss. Read on to know about the many treatment options.
A new study suggests that, in the future, glaucoma eye tests could be performed at home. This will go a long way in tracking progression of the disease.
Are you suffering from glaucoma? Here we tell you about some simple lifestyle changes that can help you live well with this condition.
Nature may have a surprise cure for people living with blindness, finds a new study. However, you need to know about the most common culprits behind visual impairment to avoid it altogether.
Glaucoma often goes undiscovered and the patients might not realise they have the condition until half of their retinal ganglion cells have been lost.
In human patients with glaucoma, the researchers found that they had five times the normal level of T cells specific to heat shock proteins.
Following a healthy lifestyle is very essential for keeping glaucoma at bay.
The study showed that individuals with a large number of the genetic markers had an almost six-fold increased risk of developing glaucoma compared to someone who had fewer genetic variants, Xinhua news agency reported.
The new study claimed that turmeric can help treat a group of eye conditions which damages optic nerves causing vision loss.
Higher rates of glaucoma in people with diabetes suggests a potential connection between this eye disease and metabolic stress.
More than 90 per cent of glaucoma cases remain undiagnosed and untreated. Celebrating World Glaucoma Week, renowned eye experts highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of the disease to prevent vision loss.
Glaucoma is a 'silent thief of sight'. This World Glaucoma Week, let's spread awareness about Glaucoma and remove the misconceptions associated with it.
According to reports, there are 11.9 million cases of glaucoma in India.
Myopia is on the rise, and it is predicted that nearly 50 per cent of the global population will be myopic by 2050.
Did you know that diabetes can almost put you at risk of losing your eyesight? Experts suggest that you need to keep your blood glucose levels in control to reduce the risk of glaucoma.
The most common cause of Glaucoma is hereditary, meaning it runs in the family. But the most important causative factor that is preventable is steroid use.
As World Glaucoma Day is approaching, let's understand the causes of this disease and how we can prevent it or reduce the risk.
A new study says that frequent caffeine intake may triple your risk of glaucoma if you are genetically predisposed to higher eye pressure. Read on to know more.
Glaucoma cannot be cured but timely intervention can help you prevent irreversible vision loss. Read on to know about the many treatment options.
A new study suggests that, in the future, glaucoma eye tests could be performed at home. This will go a long way in tracking progression of the disease.
Are you suffering from glaucoma? Here we tell you about some simple lifestyle changes that can help you live well with this condition.
Nature may have a surprise cure for people living with blindness, finds a new study. However, you need to know about the most common culprits behind visual impairment to avoid it altogether.
Glaucoma often goes undiscovered and the patients might not realise they have the condition until half of their retinal ganglion cells have been lost.
In human patients with glaucoma, the researchers found that they had five times the normal level of T cells specific to heat shock proteins.
Following a healthy lifestyle is very essential for keeping glaucoma at bay.
The study showed that individuals with a large number of the genetic markers had an almost six-fold increased risk of developing glaucoma compared to someone who had fewer genetic variants, Xinhua news agency reported.
The new study claimed that turmeric can help treat a group of eye conditions which damages optic nerves causing vision loss.
Higher rates of glaucoma in people with diabetes suggests a potential connection between this eye disease and metabolic stress.
Not just adults, even kids can suffer from glaucoma. Here are common signs of glaucoma in kids you need to be aware of.
Did you know decreased vision and tunnel vision could be key signs of glaucoma in adults? Read on to find out more.
You might be suffering from a disease but you may not know about it until it's too late!
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