What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma disease is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve which is indispensable for good vision. It is one of the leading causes of blindness in people over the age of 60 years. Though it can happen at any age but is commonly observed to affect older adults.

Many forms of glaucoma dont generate any warning signs. Their pace is affecting the vision is so gradual that one may not even notice a change in the vision until the condition reaches an advanced stage. Thus, lets have a look at its types.

Types of Glaucoma

• Open-angle Glaucoma

This type of glaucoma disease is the most common form of it. In it, there occur patchy blind spots in the peripheral or central vision in both the eyes, frequently, and in its advanced stages, it creates a kind of tunnel vision.

• Angle-closure Glaucoma

Also called closed-angle glaucoma, it is more commonly found in Asia. It gives a severe headache, pain in the eyes, feelings of nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, halos around lights, and causes redness in the eyes. It may occur suddenly or gradually, and when gets acute, it creates a medical emergency.

• Congenital Glaucoma

Also known as childhood glaucoma, congenital glaucoma occurs in babies and young children. This is a rarely found condition that may be inherited or caused by incorrect development of the eyes drainage system before birth.  It causes eyes to get enlarged, cloudiness of the cornea, and sensitivity to light.

• Normal-Tension Glaucoma

In normal-tension glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged even though the pressure in the eye is not very high. The reasons behind it remain uncertain but it may be the result of the optic nerve being more sensitive or fragile.

What are Glaucoma risk factors?

Since glaucoma disease can prove to be deadly for ones eyes, thus, we must remain aware of the following risk factors:

• 60+ age

• Having high internal eye pressure

• Being Black, Asian or Hispanic

• Having a family history of glaucoma

• Diabetes, heart disease, sickle cell anemia, etc.

• Having corneas that are thinner towards the center

• Being extremely near or farsighted

• Eye injury/surgery

• Taking corticosteroid medications especially eye drops for a long time

How to get it treated?

There are various ways a doctor may deploy as glaucoma treatment like prescribing eye drops, oral medications, laser surgery, or microsurgery to lower the pressure in ones eyes. These processes either lower the creation of fluid in the eyes or increase its flow out so that the eye pressure gets back to normal.

To know more about glaucoma symptoms and treatment, get in touch with the expert ophthalmologist in Gurgaon at The Healing Touch Hospital via 1800-180-1234