Glaucoma

Open-Angle Glaucoma: This is the most common type of glaucoma. Think of it like a drain that is slightly clogged. The fluid inside your eye can still flow out, but not as well as it should. Over time, this can cause pressure to build up, which can damage your optic nerve and affect your vision.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma: This is a more sudden type of glaucoma. Imagine the colored part of your eye (the iris) moves forward and blocks the drainage area completely, like a door closing. This causes pressure in the eye to rise very quickly, which can lead to a sudden loss of vision and needs immediate medical attention.

Symptoms:

• In early stages, glaucoma may present no symptoms.
• As the disease progresses, patients may experience:
  • Gradual loss of peripheral vision (tunnel vision)
  • Severe eye pain and headache (in acute cases)
  • Blurred vision and halos around lights

Prevention and Management:

• Regular eye exams are crucial, especially for high-risk individuals.
• Early detection through comprehensive eye exams can prevent significant vision loss.
• Managing risk factors like IOP and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help slow the progression of glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management. Regular monitoring and adherence to treatment are essential to preserve vision.

Risk Factors:

• Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP)
• Age (more common in people over 60)
• Family history of glaucoma
• Certain medical conditions, like diabetes
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications

Diagnostic Tests:

• Tonometry: Measures the pressure inside the eye.
• Ophthalmoscopy: Examines the shape and color of the optic nerve.
• Perimetry: Tests for peripheral vision loss.
• Gonioscopy: Inspects the angle where the iris meets the cornea.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): Provides detailed images of the optic nerve.

Treatment:

• Medications: Prescription eye drops to lower IOP.
• Laser Therapy: To improve drainage of fluid from the eye.
• Surgery: In severe cases, to create a new drainage pathway or reduce fluid production.