What is Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disorder that affects the vision and may eventually make one blind. After cataract, glaucoma is the commonest of the eye diseases. It can be prevented if detected in the early stages. Extensive medical research is being carried out to find out the most effective cure for this eye disease.

Eye is a complex, soft tissue organ that is connected to the rest of the body with the help of nerves and blood vessels. It is filled with a liquid called aqueous humor which gives softness to the eye and helps in carrying the vital nutrients to the eye.

The other important function of aqueous humor is to maintain the pressure inside the eye. The eye pressure is known as the intraocular pressure or IOP. In glaucoma, the intraocular pressure is abnormal which causes the aqueous to fill up in the eye, thus damaging the optical nerve and hampering vision.

Glaucoma has been categorized into different types according to the causes and symptoms.

It is the most common type of glaucoma that occurs mostly in people who are in the age group of above 40. It is also known as open angle glaucoma. In this condition, the aqueous humor slowly drains inside the eye resulting in increased intraocular pressure.

It may not show any symptoms until the later stage of the disease. It can also lead to permanent vision impairment if not detected.

In this glaucoma, IOP rises abruptly due to the blocking of the eye canals. Some people also have narrow canals in the internal structure of the eye, which results in high IOP.

Due to sudden increase of IOP, the person suffering from closed angle glaucoma feels acute pain in the eyes, nausea and blurred vision. However, it can be treated with proper medication. A surgery can also be performed to open the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye.

When glaucoma is a symptom of another disease or has been caused by a trauma or an accident, it is considered as the secondary glaucoma.

When the aqueous flow and pressure is normal but the optic nerve is damaged, then it is called normal tension glaucoma. It is mainly due to the delicate optic nerve tissues and constricted blood vessels connected to the eye.

By birth, some people have internal damage to the eye which causes glaucoma. It is discovered in infants, when their eyes become excessive watery and sensitive to light. It also causes the expansion of the cornea. Easily detectable, primary congenital glaucoma can be treated with medicated eye drops.

Glaucoma eye problems can be due to the following causes:

• Increase of IOP in the eye
• Blockage of drain canals in the eye, thus resulting in excess aqueous humor in the eye
• Physical injury to eye or the nerves

• Age
• Damage to the nerve tissue
• Some people are prone to this disease due to hereditary
• Congenital defects in the eye

In primary open-angle glaucoma, peripheral vision is gradually lost and in the later stages, there is an onset of tunnel vision. Whereas in acute angle-closure glaucoma, the symptoms often includes redness and severe pain in the eyes, nausea, vomiting along with visual problems especially during dim light.

Patients also complain about halos around the lights. This disorder is also known as the "silent thief of light" as its symptoms are hardly noticeable or often overlooked until it is too late to do anything about it.

Glaucoma is only treatable if detected at an early stage. With the help of latest advances in imaging technology (namely scanning laser polarimetry (SLP), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy), it has become fairly easy to reach a diagnosis.

Other tests using tonometer eye exam, visual field testing, gonioscopy are also performed to determine the extent of damage done to the eye.

There are different types of treatment which are effective depending on the state of glaucoma.

The eye drops prescribed by the ophthalmologist will lower the intraocular pressure inside the eye. Prostaglandins are given to the patients for the better flow of the aqueous humor inside the eye. Lumigan is a FDA approved prostaglandins prescribed for this disorder.

Doctors also suggest beta-blockers which stops the rapid production of aqueous in the eye. Several other drugs like epinephrine, parasympathomimetics and miotics have been used to effectively to control the fluid drainage in the eye.

When the eye medication is not effective, the other option can be surgery. Sometimes surgery can be the first option if the damage to the optic nerve is extensive. Eye surgery options include trabeculectomy where the surgeon makes an opening in the interior structure of the eye for the outflow of the aqueous humor.

The common method of surgery is laser surgery. In open angle glaucoma, trabeculoplasty is done where the laser rays burn some tissues of the drainage canal of the eye so that the fluid would flow with normal intraocular pressure.

Iridotomy is done in the closed angle glaucoma. In this laser eye surgery, the operation is done by removing a part of the iris to make the angle of the eye bigger for the flow of the eye fluid.

You need to take utmost care of your eyes in order to keep them healthy. Have regular check up of your eyes if you have crossed the 40-year threshold or have diabetes or myopia. People from African-Caribbean decent are more prone to it than others.

That's why, they need to be extra-careful and not let this eye problem sneak up on them. Taking necessary measures for eye care and leading a healthy lifestyle would go a long way in improving your eyesight.