GLAUCOMA
It is also called the “Sneak Thief of Sight”
GLAUCOMA FACTS
- Glaucoma is the leading cause
of irreversible blindness world wide.
- approximately 11.2 million persons aged 40
years and older with glaucoma in India.
- First degree relatives of
glaucoma patients have an 8-fold increased risk of developing the disease.
- Primary open angle glaucoma is estimated
to affect 6.48 million persons.
- The estimated number with primary
angle-closure glaucoma is 2.54 million.
- Those with any form of primary angle-closure
disease could comprise 27.6 million persons
- The dynamic model of the
economic impact of glaucoma enables cost-effectiveness comparison of
various interventions to inform policy development.
WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?
Glaucoma is a term to describe a group of diseases in which characteristic, progressive loss of optic nerve cells, manifesting as changes in the optic nerve head with matching changes in the field of vision of one or both eyes with a gradual loss of peripheral vision.
Glaucoma is a term to describe a group of diseases in which characteristic, progressive loss of optic nerve cells, manifesting as changes in the optic nerve head with matching changes in the field of vision of one or both eyes with a gradual loss of peripheral vision.
WHO IS AT RISK?
Although
anyone can get glaucoma, some people have a higher risk, those with
- a family history of glaucoma
- diabetes
- migraine
- short sightedness (myopia)
- long sightedness (hyperopia)
- eye injuries
- blood pressure
- past or present use of
cortisone drugs (steroids)
People in
these groups should have their first eye check no later than the age of 35. For
most people, it is recommended to have an eye check for glaucoma by the age of
40
HOW IS GLAUCOMA DETECTED?
Regular
eye examinations are the best way to detect glaucoma early.
A glaucoma
test usually includes the following:
- Visual
Acuity This
test measures how well you see at various distances.
optic nerve check with an Ophthalmoscope / Photograph - eye pressure check (tonometry)
- visual field assessment (Perimetry)if needed - this tests
the sensitivity of the side vision, where glaucoma strikes first
- Gonioscopy: To inspect the drainage angle of your eye.
- OCT: It gives live cross sections magnified slices of
various structures of the eye.
CAN GLAUCOMA BE TREATED?
Although
there is no cure for glaucoma it can
usually be controlled and further loss
of sight either prevented or at least slowed down.
Treatments include:
- Eyedrops
- these are the most common
form of treatment and must be used regularly. In some cases pills are
prescribed. The drops can be varied to best suit the patient and the type
of glaucoma.
- Laser
(laser trabeculoplasty)
- this is performed when eye drops do not stop deterioration in the field
of vision. In many cases eye drops will need to be continued after laser.
Laser does not require a hospital stay.
- Surgery
(trabeculectomy) - this is performed usually
after eye drops and laser have failed to control the eye pressure. A new
channel for the fluid to leave the eye is created.
Treatment can save remaining vision but it does not improve
eye sight.
With
any type of glaucoma, periodic examinations are very important to prevent
vision loss. Because glaucoma can progress without your knowledge, adjustments to
your treatment may be necessary from time to time.
