Glaucoma – Causes, Prevention & Treatment

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition where your eye’s optic nerve is damaged. This happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. This extra fluid increases the Intraocular Pressure (IOP) which damages the optic nerve in the eye. The optic nerve is the nerve sending images to your brain and if the damage worsens, glaucoma can even cause permanent vision loss within a few years.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in people over 60 years of age. However, if treated early blindness due to glaucoma can be prevented.

Usually, people with glaucoma go through treatment and have routine checkups to inspect their vision. Dr.Mayur Jawale is the Best Eye Specialist in Chikhali having extensive knowledge and experience in treating patients having various eye infections.

Causes

Glaucoma is the consequence when there is damage to your optic nerve. The fluid inside your eye, called aqueous humor, flows out of your eye through a mesh-like channel. When this channel gets blocked, or the eye is producing excess fluid, the liquid starts to build up.

The optic nerve is like an electric cable having many small wires. As the pressure builds up and the nerve fibers start to die, you’ll start developing blind spots.

Glaucoma can be inherited, meaning it can be passed down from parents to their offspring, and hence it is recommended to be aware of your family history and be proactive in combating glaucoma. Scientists have conducted studies to identify genes related to high eye pressure and optic nerve damage.

Less common causes of glaucoma include a blunt or chemical injury to your eye, severe eye infection due to dust or other particles, blocked blood vessels inside your eye, and inflammatory conditions.

Types:

Open-Angle Glaucoma

This is also called as wide-angle glaucoma. It is the most common type of glaucoma where the eye does not drain the fluid the way it should. Over time this leads to increased pressure and results in the damage to the optic nerve.

Initially, there are no signs of glaucoma and hence if not diagnosed in the early stages may cause loss in vision. It is best to take regular eye exams and check for signs of damage to the optic nerve.

Angle Closure Glaucoma

This is also called as closed-angle glaucoma or narrow-angle glaucoma. It is more common in Asia as compared to other regions of the world.

This occurs when the drainage angle which is formed by the cornea and the iris is blocked because of the bulge in the iris. When the drainage angle gets completely blocked, the eye pressure shoots up and is called an acute attack. This is an emergency and you should visit an ophthalmologist without any delay or you may lose vision.

Symptoms of Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma

• Severe Eye Pain
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Blurry Vision

Prevention

In order to be proactive, it is recommended by health professionals to take the following precautions:

• Regular Eye Checkups and examinations
• Be aware of your family’s history
• Do simple yet effective eye exercises regularly
• Reduce your screen time as much as it is feasible
• Take the eye drops as prescribed by your doctor
• Protect your eyes from dust particles other materials.

Treatment

Glaucoma damage is non – reversible. Hence, doctors can only help to stop further damage. To treat glaucoma, depending on the individual and the damage your ophthalmologist may use eye drops, oral medications, laser surgery, or micro-surgery to lower the eye pressure and save the optic nerve.

Eye Drops

These either lower the creation of the fluid or increase its flow out, either way, it reduces the eye pressure. Because of the potential drug interactions, inform your doctor about other medical problems you have or the medications you take. Also, let them know if it’s hard for you to follow a regimen involving two or three different eye drops or if they have side effects. They may recommend a different course of action.

Oral Medications

Your ophthalmologist may prescribe you drugs to take orally which can improve drainage or slow the creation of fluid in your eye.

Laser surgery

This procedure can slightly raise the flow of fluid from your eye if you have open-angle glaucoma. It can stop fluid blockage if you have angle-closure glaucoma. Procedures include:

• Trabeculoplasty – This opens the drainage area.
• Iridotomy – This makes a tiny hole in your iris to let fluid flow more freely.
• Cyclophotocoagulation – This treats areas of the middle layer of your eye to lower fluid production.

Microsurgery

In a procedure called a trabeculectomy, your ophthalmologist creates a new channel to drain the fluid and ease eye pressure. This form of surgery may need to be done more than once. Your doctor might implant a tube to help drain fluid. This surgery can lead to temporary or permanent vision loss, as well as bleeding or infection.

About Dr. Mayur Jawale

Dr. Mayur Jawale is the Best Eye Specialist in Bhosari. He has successfully completed his MBBS from MIMSR Medical College, Latur and MS in Ophthalmology from Grant Medical College (J.J. Hospital), Mumbai in 2012. Moreover, he has done a fellowship in Phaco Surgery from H.V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune.

To know more about Dr. Mayur Jawale, please visit Dr. Mayur Jawale/About Us.

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