Glaucoma

What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?

• Although the signs and symptoms may vary, some of the common ones are:Open-angle glaucoma
  • Appearance of patchy blind spots in vision of both eyes
  • Tunneled vision when condition is advanced

  Acute angle-closure glaucoma

  • Blurred of vision
  • Halos around lights
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Eye pain
  • Redness of eye
  • Severe headache

  There are very few warning signs of open-angle glaucoma leading to permanent damage. Hence, regular eye exams hold a vital key in identifying glaucoma early.

  • If you are 40 years or older, get an eye examination every four years in absence of any glaucoma risk factors and every two years if you are at risk..
  • If you are 65 years or older, get an eye examination every two years.

What are the risk factors for Glaucoma?

Some of the common risk factors for glaucoma include:

• High internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
• Age > 60 years
• A positive family history of Glaucoma
• Presence of medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease
• Eye conditions like nearsightedness
• A history of eye injury or eye surgery

Medications, especially steroid-containing eye drops, for a long time

What is the treatment for Glaucoma?

Glaucoma and its damage can’t be reversed. The objective of regular checkups and treatment is to help in slowing down or prevention of vision loss. The treatment aims at reducing the pressure in your eye and may consist of:

• Medications in the form of eyedrops
• Medications to be taken orally
• Surgery and other therapies
  • Laser therapy: Laser trabeculoplasty for open-angle glaucoma
  • Filtering surgery: Trabeculectomy
  • Glaucoma drainage device and tubeshunt surgery
  • Electrocautery with a small electrocautery device known as Trabecutome
  • Laser peripheral iridotomy

Treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma

It is a medical emergency requiring urgent treatment to reduce the pressure in your eye with both medication and surgical procedures.