Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that can damage the optic nerve and lead to permanent vision loss, if left untreated. In most cases has no symptoms other than gradual loss of vision, it is difficult to self-diagnose it. Hence, it is important that people must get their eye checkup done from an eye hospital whenever they experience trouble in vision or Every 1 – 2 years after the age of 40.
It’s important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure. If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented. If you have, you’ll need treatment or monitoring for the rest of your life. Visit Shreya Hospital in Ghaziabad for all type of Eye Problems.
Symptoms
The symptoms depend on the type and stage of your condition.
Open-angle glaucoma
- No symptoms in early stages
- Gradually, patchy blind spots in your side vision. Side vision also is known as peripheral vision
- In later stages, difficulty seeing things in your central vision
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
- Severe headache
- Severe eye pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Halos or colored rings around lights
- Eye redness
Normal-tension glaucoma
- No symptoms in early stages
- Gradually, blurred vision
- In later stages, loss of side vision
Vision Loss in children
- A dull or cloudy eye (infants)
- Increased blinking (infants)
- Tears without crying (infants)
- Blurred vision
- Nearsightedness that gets worse
- Headache
Pigmentary glaucoma
- Halos around lights
- Blurred vision with exercise
- Gradual loss of side vision
Diagnosis
- Measuring intraocular pressure, also called tonometry
- Testing for optic nerve damage with a dilated eye examination and imaging tests
- Checking for areas of vision loss, also known as a visual field test
- Measuring corneal thickness with an exam called pachymetry
- Inspecting the drainage angle, also known as gonioscopy
Treatment
The damage caused by glaucoma can’t be reversed. But treatment and regular checkups can help slow or prevent vision loss, especially if you catch the disease in its early stages.
It is treated by lowering intraocular pressure. Treatment options include prescription eye drops, oral medicines, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of approaches.