The optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes injured in glaucoma, a frequent eye condition.
It is typically brought on by fluid accumulation in the front of the eye, which raises intraocular pressure.
If glaucoma is not detected and treated at an early stage, it may result in visual loss.
Although it can affect anyone, adults in their 70s and 80s are the most frequently affected
SYMPTOMS:
Initially, glaucoma rarely manifests any symptoms.
It usually takes years to develop slowly and first affects your peripheral vision, which is the outer margins of your field of vision.
Due to this, many people are unaware they have glaucoma, and it is frequently only discovered during a routine eye exam.
In the event that you do experience any symptoms, they may include impaired vision or the perception of rainbow-colored circles surrounding bright lights.
Usually, both eyes are afflicted, though sometimes one eye may be more severely impacted.
Very rarely, glaucoma can occur suddenly and lead to:
• Intense eye pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Red eyes
• Headache
• Tenderness around the eyes
• Seeing rings around the light
• Blurred vision
TYPES OF GLAUCOMA:
Glaucoma can take many distinct forms.
Known as primary open angle glaucoma, it is the most prevalent. This usually takes years to grow slowly.
It results from the drainage ducts of the eye slowly being blocked over time.
Additional forms of glaucoma include:
• Acute angle closure glaucoma: a rare form brought on by the drainage in the eye suddenly becoming clogged, which can quickly increase the pressure inside the eye.
• Secondary glaucoma: caused by an eye ailment that is present in the background, like eye inflammation (uveitis).
• Childhood glaucoma: a rare type that occurs in very young children, caused by an abnormality of the eye
CAUSES:
There are numerous causes of glaucoma.
The majority of cases are brought on by an obstruction in the eye's drainage system, which leads to a buildup of pressure.
The nerve that connects the eye to the brain is subsequently damaged by this rise in pressure (optic nerve).
Although the exact cause is frequently unknown, several factors, such as the following, can raise the risk:
• Age: Glaucoma is very common in old age
• Ethnicity: African, Asian and Caribbean people are at more risk for glaucoma.
• Family history: Glaucoma can be transferred to children's from their parents.
• Medical conditions: Diabetes, short and long sightedness can cause glaucoma.
TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Any visual loss that occurred before glaucoma was identified cannot be reversed, however therapy can slow the progression of your condition.
The type of glaucoma you have will determine the recommended course of therapy, but you can choose from the following:
• Eyedrops: To reduce eye pressure.
• Laser treatment: To open blocked drainage tubes.
• Surgery: To improve fluid drainage.
SHORT ANALYSIS:
Glaucoma could be serious condition for some patient's as if not treated, the person can loose it's eye sight but as science have made inroads, glaucoma can be treated through laser and surgery.
No comments:
Post a Comment