Imagine waking up one day and realizing that your vision is slowly slipping away. It is a frightening reality for many individuals diagnosed with glaucoma. 2023 research on glaucoma management in India reveals that glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in India, accounting for 1.2 million people.
It’s natural for you to wonder, “What makes glaucoma treatments challenging in India despite the medical advancements?” The answer is multifaceted—lack of awareness, under-detection, poor access to glaucoma treatment options, and poor treatment compliance.
While we cannot single-handedly solve all these concerns, we can surely begin with awareness—the real reason for creating this blog. So, without further ado, allow us to tell you everything you need to know about glaucoma so that you can recognize and treat it.
What is Glaucoma?
Let’s start with the basics first—the meaning of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of conditions that affect your optic nerve, which is located at the back of your eye. This damage is often caused by abnormally high pressure in your eye. Over time, increased pressure damages the optic nerve tissue, which may lead to vision loss or even blindness if left untreated.
Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers yet when it comes to the etiology of glaucoma. Yet some of the prominent risk factors are:
- High pressure inside the eye
- Family history of glaucoma
- Belonging to certain ethnicities (African, Asian, or Hispanic descent)
- Eye injury
- Over the age of 60
Types of Glaucoma
There are various types of glaucoma. Here’s a brief overview of the types
1. Open-Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common type of glaucoma. It happens gradually as the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time. This causes an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). The reason why it is called “open-angle” is because the drainage angle formed by the cornea and iris remains open.
It is important to know that many people with open-angle glaucoma don’t experience any symptoms in the early stages.
2. Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Also known as acute or narrow-angle glaucoma, it occurs when the iris bulges forward. This bulging narrows or blocks the drainage angle formed by the cornea and iris. As a result, there is a sudden build-up of pressure in the eyes.
An individual with this type of glaucoma will experience the following:
- Severe eye pain
- Nausea
- Redness in the eye
- Blurred vision.
Needless to say, it is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.
3. Normal-Tension Glaucoma
Although there is no increase in the eye pressure here, the optic nerve still ends up getting damaged. The exact cause is unknown, but it might be due to a sensitive optic nerve or a reduced blood supply to the nerve. Since this type is less understood, it calls for regular monitoring of your eye health.
4. Congenital Glaucoma
Congenital or pediatric glaucoma results from abnormal development of the eye’s drainage canals during pregnancy and is a rare type to occur. Individuals with this type experience cloudy eyes, excessive tearing, and sensitivity to light.
5. Secondary Glaucoma
Secondary glaucoma results from an injury or another eye condition. For instance, uveitis or cataracts. It can also be caused by medications like steroids. As a result, the treatment for this type focuses on the underlying cause in addition to managing the increased eye pressure.
Also Read – What Are the Different Types of Cataracts: Causes and Treatment Options
Signs & Symptoms
What makes glaucoma tricky is the lack of symptoms early on. However, as the condition progresses, you may see the following symptoms:
- Patchy blind spots in your vision
- Severe headache
- Eye pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Halos around lights
- Eye redness
Treatment Options
Once detected and diagnosed, treatment options for glaucoma look at management to prevent further vision loss. Here’s what you can expect:
- Medications: Prescription eye drops are often the first step in treating glaucoma. These drops either reduce the production of fluid in your eye or improve its drainage. Your doctor may also prescribe oral medication based on the condition.
- Laser Therapy: Laser therapy helps drain the fluid from your eyes. Two common laser surgeries happen—Laser Trabeculoplasty (for open-angle glaucoma) and Laser Iridotomy (for angle-closure glaucoma).
- Surgery: When both the treatment options mentioned above are not enough, your doctor may consider surgical options to help improve the fluid drainage.
Also Read – Dry Eye Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Conclusion
Glaucoma is a life-altering eye concern that, unfortunately, has no cure. The symptoms start slowly for you to even recognize them. This leaves us with only one option—regular comprehensive eye exams as preventive measures for early detection and management.
Moreover, If you experience any symptoms, don’t wait—visit an experienced eye specialist immediately by booking an appointment at Shree Ramkrishna Netralaya, one of the best eye hospitals in Mumbai.