Glaucoma Care – Protecting Your Vision for Life
Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by an imbalance in the fluid (aqueous humor) inside the eye, leading to increased eye pressure. This damages the optic nerve, reduces blood supply to vision cells, and causes side vision loss, progressing to blindness. It often shows no early symptoms, making early detection crucial.
KEY FEATURES:
High intraocular pressure – measured with tonometry.
Optic nerve damage (cupping/atrophy).
Nerve fiber and visual field loss – detected using OCT.
Who Should Get Screened?
- People with a family history of glaucoma.
- Adults over 40 years (screening every 2 years).
- Those with high power glasses (yearly checkups).
- People with high intraocular pressure (complete glaucoma workup every 6 months).
Treatment approach for Glaucoma
The treatment options for glaucoma are targeted to lower the pressure in the eye to the level that the damage to optic nerve should not worsen or develop. For this three treatment approaches can be undertaken:
Eye drops: Eye drops are prescribed to decrease the eye pressure by reducing the production of aqueous fluid within the eye or by promoting the drainage of the fluid.
Laser treatment: Laser treatment is often sought to reduce the medications to control pressure. Laser iridotomy involves making a hole in the iris to restore free flow of fluid.
Trabeculectomy: It is surgical approach used in advanced cases where miniature instruments are used to create a drainage channel to help the fluid leave the eye. In case of the failure of this surgery, glaucoma valves may need to be implanted. However, there is very minimal likelihood of failure of modern surgery.
