By Dr. Ravi Thadani, Ophthalmology
Glaucoma is a disorder of the eye that leads to loss of vision that may eventually cause complete blindness. The most common type of glaucoma is called open angle glaucoma; this type is very dangerous as it does not exhibit any symptom initially.
Causes-
Glaucoma develops when certain problems in the eye do not allow the fluid in the eyes to drain out properly. As the fluid doesn’t get drained completely, it leads to an accumulation of fluid, thus increasing pressure in your eyes. This can damage the optic nerve and result in loss of vision. In some cases, glaucoma might also develop due to fragility of the optic nerve (the nerve that transmits impulses from one’s retina to the brain) or weakened blood flow to the optic nerve.
Symptoms-
One of the reasons why glaucoma is such a silent vision killer is because it does not throw up many symptoms to take notice of. Therefore, you may realize you have this disease only after you start experiencing vision problems.
Certain symptoms can be:
- Blurry vision
- Pain in the eyes
- Loss of peripheral vision
- You may suffer from headaches resulting from vision problems
Treatment-
Glaucoma is generally treated using the following modes:
- Traditional Surgery: There are surgical procedures that can help drain out the fluid from your eyes.
- Eye Drops: Eye drops are used to lessen fluid production and relieve pressure in your eyes.
Prevention-
The preventive measure for glaucoma includes consulting an eye doctor the moment you start experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment can help in containing the disease and preventing loss of vision.