Glaucoma is a class of eye disorders that cause damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve transmits vision information from your eyes to your brain, and is crucial for clear vision. The damage to the optic nerve is usually caused by excessive pressure in your eye. However, glaucoma can occur even when you have normal pressure in your eyes.
Glaucoma is an issue that can happen at any age, but it is more prevalent in older people. It is among the most common causes of blindness among those over 60.
Certain forms of glaucoma are characterized by no signs of warning. The effects are such that it is gradual, you will not be aware of a change in vision until it is at its most advanced stage.
It’s essential to keep up with regular eye exams, which include measuring your pressure in the eye. If glaucoma can be detected in the early stages, loss of vision can be stopped or prevented. If you’re suffering from glaucoma you’ll require treatment or surveillance throughout your life.
The signs and symptoms of glaucoma are contingent on the severity and type of the condition.
Glaucoma with open-angle
- There are no signs in the beginning stages of the disease.
- Gradually, you will see patches of blind spots will appear in your side vision will appear. Side vision is also referred to as peripheral vision.
- In later years, you may have difficulty being able to see things that are in the center of your view
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
- Headache severe
- Severe eye pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vision blurred
- The Halos, or the colored rings that surround the lights
- Eye redness
Normal-tension glaucoma
- There are no signs in the beginning stages of the disease.
- Gradually blurred vision gradually blurred.
- At later times, the loss of side vision
Glaucoma in children
- Eyes that are dull or cloudy (infants)
- Blinking frequency increases (infants)
- Tears that do not cry (infants)
- Vision blurred
- The condition gets worse
- Headache
Glaucoma with pigmentation
- Halos around lights
- Exercise can blur the vision.
- Progressive loss of side vision
When should you see a doctor?
If you are experiencing symptoms that appear abruptly, you could be suffering from severe angle-closure glaucoma. The symptoms include severe headaches and eye pain that is severe. The treatment should be sought as soon as you can. See an emergency room, or call the eye physician’s (ophthalmologist’s) office immediately.
Our health care provider will go over your medical history and perform a an extensive eye exam. Your doctor may conduct a variety of tests, such as:
- The measurement of intraocular pressure is also known as tonometry
- Tests for damage to the optic nerve by examining the eyes with a dilated lens and imaging tests
- Looking for areas of loss of vision Also known as the visual field test
- Measures cornea thickness using an examination called pachymetry
- The drainage angle is examined, also referred to as the gonioscopy
Treatment
The eye damage that is caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. However, treatment and regular eye exams can slow down or stop vision loss, particularly when you are diagnosed with the disease early.
Glaucoma is treated by reducing the pressure in the eye. Treatment choices include eye drops prescribed by a doctor and oral medicines and laser treatments, surgical procedures as well as a mixture of treatments.
Eyedrops
Treatment for glaucoma usually begins with prescribed eye drops. Some can lower eye pressure by enhancing the way fluid is removed from your eyes. Some may reduce the amount of fluid that your eye produces. Based on the level of your pressure in the eye needs to be, you could be given multiple drops for your eyes.
Prescription eye drop medicines include:
- Prostaglandins. These increase the exudation of fluid within your eye, assisting to reduce pressure on your eyes. These include latanoprost (Xalatan) as well as the travoprost (Travatan Z), tafluprost (Zioptan) bimatoprost (Lumigan) and latanoprostene bunod (Vyzulta).
The possible side effects are mild irritation and reddening of the eyes, darkening of iris, darkening of color of the eyelashes or the skin of the eyelids, and blurred vision. The class of drugs is recommended for use once a day.
- Beta blockers. These reduce the production of fluids within your eye, assisting to lower pressure in the eye. Examples include the timolol (Betimol, Istalol, Timoptic) and betaxolol (Betoptic S).
The possible side effects are difficulty breathing, slowing the heart rate, reduced blood pressure, fatigue and impotence. This class of medication may be prescribed onceor twice daily based on your medical condition.
- Alpha-adrenergic agonists. They reduce the production of the fluid that moves through the inner lining the eye. These also enhance the flow of fluids in the eye. Examples include the apraclonidine (Iopidine) and Brimonidine (Alphagan P and Qoliana).
The possible side effects are irregular heart rate and blood pressure. Other possible side effects include fatigue and red, itchy or swollen eyes, as well as dry mouth. This kind of drug is typically prescribed for two-time daily usage, but it is sometimes ordered for at least three times a daily.
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibiters. These medicines reduce the production of fluid within the eye. Examples include dorzolamide as well as brinzolamide (Azopt). Some possible side effects could include metal taste and a frequent need to urinate and tingling of the toes and fingers. The class of drugs is typically prescribed for two-time daily usage, but it can also be prescribed three times per every day.
- Rho Kinase inhibitor. This medicine lowers eye pressure by reducing the Rho kinase enzymes which cause an increase in fluid. It is available in the form of netarsudil (Rhopressa) and is recommended for use once per day. Eye irritation and redness.
- Cholinergic or miotic agent. These increase the flow of fluid out of your eye. One example of this is pilocarpine (Isopto Carpine). Its side effects include headache eyes, eye pain, lower pupils, dim or blurred vision and nearsightedness. This type of medicine is typically prescribed at least four times per every day. Due to potential adverse consequences and the necessity of frequent use throughout the day the medicines aren’t frequently prescribed anymore.
Because a portion of the medicine for your eyes gets absorbed into your bloodstream, you could suffer from side effects that aren’t related with your eye. To limit the absorption of this medication you should close your eyes for a period of 1 to 2 minutes after you have put drops in. Also, you can apply pressure to the corners of your eye near your nose to seal the tear duct for one up to two minutes. Remove any unneeded drops off your eyelid.
It is possible that you have been given several drops for your eyes or to make use of artificial tears. You should take at least five minutes between applying various drops.
Oral medication
Eye drops by themselves can’t lower your eye pressure to the level you desire. Therefore, your eye doctor might prescribe an oral medication. It is typically one that inhibits carbonic Anhydrase. Some possible side effects are frequent urination and tingling in the toes and fingers nausea, depression or kidney stones.
Treatments for other conditions and surgeries
Other options for treatment include surgery and laser therapy. These techniques can help to remove fluid from the eye, and also lower pressure:
- Laser therapy. Laser trabeculoplasty (truh-BEK-u-low-plas-tee) is an option if you can’t tolerate eye drops. Also, it can be utilized when medicine hasn’t helped slow the progression of your condition. Your eye doctor may also suggest laser surgery prior to applying drops for your eyes. The procedure is performed in the eye doctor’s office. The eye doctor will use small lasers to enhance your drainage from the tissues situated at the angle that the cornea and iris meet. It can take a few weeks until the total benefit of this procedure is apparent.
- Filtering surgery. This is a surgical procedure called a trabeculectomy (truh-bek-u-LEK-tuh-me). The eye surgeon opens a hole within the eye’s white that is also known by the name of the sclera. The surgery creates an additional area for fluid to exit the eye.
- drainage tubes. In this procedure the eye surgeon inserts small tubes into your eye to remove excess fluid in order to reduce the pressure in your eyes.
- Minimally invasive surgical treatment for glaucoma (MIGS). Your eye doctor may suggest a MIGS procedure to reduce the pressure in your eyes. They generally require less postoperative care and carry a lower risk than trabeculectomy, or an eye drainage device. They are usually used in conjunction to cataract surgeries. There are many MIGS methods are available techniques available, and your eye physician will explain which one could be suitable for you.
Following your procedure, you’ll have to visit your eye doctor to conduct follow-up examinations. You may also need to undergo further procedures if your pressure starts to increase or other changes take place in your eye.
Treating acute angle-closure glaucoma
Acute angle-closure glaucoma can be an emergency medical situation. When you’re diagnosed the condition and require urgent treatment, you’ll require immediate intervention to decrease the pressure in your eye. It is usually necessary to treat by laser, medication as well as surgical techniques.
There is a possibility of having an operation known as laser peripheral Iridotomy. The doctor makes a tiny hole in your iris with the laser. The laser allows the flow of fluid into the iris. This aids in opening the angle for drainage of eyes and eases pressure on the eye.
What is the definition of glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that can cause permanent loss of vision because of damages in the optic nerve, which sends signals to the brain and the eye.
How prevalent is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma has a direct impact on over 70 million individuals all over the world.
Glaucoma is the leading causes of permanent blindness which accounts for 12.3 percent of blindness worldwide.
Glaucoma is a condition that affects as much as 5 percent of people 70 and older and rises to more than 9percent for people aged who are 80 or older.
What is the reason glaucoma is often referred to as the ‘Silent Thief in Sight”?
Glaucoma has been nicknamed the silent stealer of sight due to the fact that it can cause permanent loss of vision before the condition is diagnosed. In its initial stage, glaucoma is not usually present with any signs which would prompt you to visit your eye doctor for complaints of vision problems. So at the point you visit your eye doctor you will notice that a substantial amount of loss of vision has already taken place.
What causes glaucoma to cause loss of vision?
Glaucoma is caused by excessive pressure inside the eye. The eye pressure (IOP) pressurizes the optic nerve which causes damage and eventually the loss of vision is permanent.
What can cause high pressure on the eyes?
Pressure is created in the eye because of a malfunction within the drainage system of the eye. In a healthy, healthy eye the aqueous humor or fluid, is produced inside the eye. And when it drains from the eye via an anterior angle a new layer of fluid is created. The process repeats itself repeatedly and, if it is effective keeps a steady degree of pressure in the eye.
If a problem arises within the drainage system and the natural drainage of the eye gets blocked and the fluid begins to build up within the eye and results in a rise in pressure inside the eye.
A simpler way to comprehend how eye pressure increases is to imagine that you are in the kitchen and see your sink. As soon as the faucet turns on water is pushed to the bowl of the sink, and goes through into the drainpipe. If it is blocked within the drain pipe water flows into the pipe, which causes an increase in pressure inside the pipe.
Similar to how constant pressure in the drain pipe could result in damage over time and could result in the pipe burst, continuous high pressure within the eye can lead to damage to the optic nerve and, consequently, loss of vision.
Can glaucoma affect my entire vision?
A Vision that is peripherally affected first and, should it not be controlled effectively at this stage, could cause tunnel vision. As the disease advances central vision becomes affected the next time and the patient is left with complete or partial permanent loss of vision.
