Category: Glucoma

Diabetic patients are at greater risk of developing other diseases; especially eye-related conditions. We know that a visit to the doctor can be intimidating for some of you; however, being informed and aware of your condition is the best way to prevent it from progressing further.

How diabetes affects your vision?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease where either your body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin produced. Your body cells derive energy from the sugar and insulin helps your body in breaking down the glucose and delivers it to cells throughout your body.

When your body cannot use the insulin, sugar levels keep increasing in your blood. This condition is known as hyperglycemia and it affects each and every part of your body including the eyes.

Diabetes makes your vision blurry.

Blurry vision is the first sign that your blood glucose levels are high. Your vision gets blurry as fluid starts leaking through the lens of your eyes. As a result, the eye lenses swell and changes shape. This makes it tough for your eyes to focus and as a result, your vision gets distorted. To correct this condition, you have to bring down your blood sugar levels to normal.

Diabetes causes Cataract

Yes. Diabetes is one of the reasons behind cataract. This is a condition where your clear eye lenses become cloudy. While anyone can develop cataract, diabetic people get them earlier than non-diabetic people.

As your lens gets cloudy, your eyes cannot focus on objects properly and this affects your vision. You have to undergo a surgery for cataract removal. The doctor replaces cloudy lens with another artificial lens.

Diabetes can result in Glaucoma

Glaucoma is when the eye pressure increases to an unprecedented level. This happens when the eye fluid cannot drain properly. This damages the blood vessels in your eyes and can also damage the nerves. Open-Angle Glaucoma is the most common form of the condition. Doctors mostly prescribe medicines for treating Open Angle Glaucoma. The medicines help lower eye pressure, speed up the fluid drainage process, and also reduce the amount of liquid (aqueous humour) produced by your eyes.

This type of glaucoma often doesn’t cause any symptoms until it has progressed to an advanced level and you start losing your vision. Usually, it’s not possible to tell from the symptoms whether you have glaucoma or not. The initial symptoms are often misunderstood as being a minor issue. Primary symptoms include:

• Watery eyes
• Halos around lights
• Eye aches or pain
• Headaches
• Blurred vision

While it’s difficult for you to identify vision issues, an ophthalmologist can diagnose it in its early stage. And that’s why undergoing a thorough eye check-up is essential, especially if you have diabetes.

Treatment options can include medicine and eye drops. The eye care specialist may also prescribe laser treatment and surgery for improving drainage of fluid. If you have diabetes, you’re also at risk of developing a rare condition known as Neovascular Glaucoma.

In this condition, the blood vessels in the eye grow on the iris – the coloured part of your eye. This growth blocks the drainage of fluid and increases eye pressure. This condition is tough to treat; however, the doctor may try laser surgery to cut the additional growth. The doctor might also use implants for improving the fluid drainage.

Diabetic Retinopathy

As the name suggests, this eye condition is caused by diabetes. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, causing diabetic retinopathy.

The retina is a crucial part of your vision that takes in light, turns it into an image and then sends it to the brain through the optic nerve. This eye condition requires early treatment and failing to do so can cause permanent blindness. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy. The risk of eye condition can be lowered if you keep your blood sugar levels under control.

There are several other types of this condition:

Background retinopathy: In this condition, the blood vessels are damaged; however, your vision isn’t lost. This might get worse if you do not control diabetes.

Maculopathy: In this condition, the macula, an important part of the retina is damaged, affecting your vision.

Proliferative retinopathy: This condition develops when the cells at the back of your eye don’t get enough oxygen, causing growth of new blood vessels. These new blood vessels are so fragile that they bleed and lead to a clot.

This may cause scars, pulling your retina away. The detachment of retina cause vision loss and this cannot be treated. However, sometimes this condition can be treated. A laser procedure is used for burning the blood vessels. Surgery is also an option. This can prevent blindness in people with early retinopathy.

If you have diabetes and are concerned about your eyes, here are a few questions that you may find helpful:

1. What are the ways to test eyes for diabetic eye disease?

You will never know that diabetes is slowly deteriorating up your vision until it’s too bad. It’s possible for your doctor to identify it during the early stages if you go for regular eye examinations. The optometrist will conduct the following tests to detect diabetic eye disease:

• Dilated Retinal Exam

The doctor will use a Snellen Chart (a chart with random letters of different size) for checking your vision. After that, he/she will apply eye drops to dilate the pupils of the eye. In this way, he/she can examine the back of your eye using a special magnifying glass.

The doctor mainly examines the back of the eye, the optic nerve, and the blood vessels in the front and middle of the eye. The doctor may also use a slit lamp to examine the cornea of the eye. The doctor might even take photographs of the back of your eyes for detailed examination.

• The Tonometry Test

This test is for measuring the fluid pressure in your eye. This test is performed to check whether any eye disease (such as Glaucoma) is damaging the nerves in the back of your eye or not.

2. What are the ways of treating diabetic retinopathy?

Medication

One type of medication is called “anti-VEGF” medication. This helps in reducing the swelling of the macula and slows the process of vision impairment. This may also help improve your vision. This drug is given through injections in the eye.

Laser Surgery

Laser surgery might be used to help seal off leaking blood vessels. This can reduce swelling of the retina. Laser surgery also helps in shrinking blood vessels and prevents their recurrence. Sometimes, the doctor may carry out multiple treatments for curing the condition.

Vitrectomy

The ophthalmologist may also suggest vitrectomy. In this surgery, the ophthalmologist removes the vitreous gel and blood that’s leaking from the blood vessels in the back of your eye. This helps light rays to focus properly on the retina. During the surgery, the doctor also removes scar tissues.

3. What kind of diet should one follow?

A good and well-balanced diet not only helps in controlling your blood sugar levels but also keeps your eyes healthy. Eat food items rich in Vitamin A, zeaxanthin, lutein, and Omega-3 fatty acid. You may include food items in your diet such as-

• Fish:

These are rich in Omega 3 fatty acid and are critical for maintaining the health of your retina. It also helps prevent dry eyes. Incorporate fish into your daily meal at least once a week.

• Eggs:

This is a great food for your eye. It contains lutein, vitamin A, and zeaxanthin. These nutrients safeguard the eye from serious eye conditions and also, protect the retina.

• Dairy Products:

Milk and yoghurt are good for your eye health. These contain zinc and vitamin A. Zinc is mainly found in the retina and the choroids. This essential mineral keeps your eyes healthy.

• Citrus Fruit:

Citrus fruits contain Vitamin C which is vital for your eye health.

Follow a healthy meal plan comprising of fresh vegetables, lean meat, and wholegrain for keeping blood glucose levels in control and for maintaining eye health.

4. Foods that are to be avoided

Food items containing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and linoleic acid can put you at high risk for eye disease. Processed food, chocolate, margarine, french fries, chips, baked goodies such as cookies and cakes can increase your risk of eye disease.

Also, avoid aerated drinks. Junk food not only affects your cardiovascular health but also increase the blood glucose levels, exposing you to risk of developing eye conditions.

5. Who are at the risk of developing diabetic eye disease?

Anyone who has diabetes can develop diabetic eye disease; however, you are at greater risk if your blood glucose levels are extremely high and if you have high blood pressure. High cholesterol levels and smoking also increase your risk of developing diabetic eye condition. Diabetes during pregnanancy also increases your chances of developing eye issues. And in case you are at the initial phase of diabetic retinopathy, it can get worse during pregnancy.

6. What are the symptoms of diabetic eye disease?

The early symptoms of the diabetic eye disease are barely noticeable. You may not experience pain and even won’t experience any changes in your vision: meanwhile, your vision gets affected. This is especially true for diabetic retinopathy. Some of the initial symptoms that might occur include:

• blurry, distorted or wavy vision
• flashes of light
• poor colour vision
• dark areas in your visual field
• frequently changing vision (sometimes vision may change from day-to-day)
• spots or floaters in your visual field

Talk to your eye doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

7. Can diabetes cause cataract?

Yes. If you have Diabetes Mellitus then you are at greater risk of developing a cataract. The lens of your eyes derives its nutrients from aqueous humour, a fluid that fills the front part of the eye.

Aqueous humour provides glucose and oxygen. When you don’t have control over the blood glucose levels, the sugar levels increase in the aqueous humour. This causes the lens to swell, affecting your vision.

Moreover, the eye lens also contains an enzyme that converts glucose to sorbitol. When sorbitol accumulates in the lens, it affects the cells and the naturally-occurring proteins. This causes the lens to become less clear.

8. Can diabetes cause Retinal Detachment?

This condition is rare and is age-related. Retinal detachment occurs when the blood vessels responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the layer of cells located in the back portion of the eye starts pulling away. Prolonged levels of high blood sugar are one of the main reasons for retinal detachment. This damage results in the formation of scar tissue that can pull the retina out of position.

9. Who are at risk of retinal detachment?

You are at greater risk of developing retinal detachment if you are:

• between the ages of 50 and 75 years
• extremely short-sighted
• have diabetic retinopathy

Those who are short-sighted are more likely to develop retinal detachment as they are usually born with a thinner retina.

10. What to do to prevent diabetes-related blindness?

Early detection and timely treatment are the only ways of lowering the risks of diabetes-related blindness. More than anything else, you have to control your blood sugar levels. This slows down the onset of diabetic retinopathy and also reduces the chances of undergoing sight-correcting surgery.

Glaucoma and other eye conditions treatment in Kolkata

Looking for a good eye hospital in Kolkata for glaucoma treatment? Do not waste time and visit Disha Eye Hospital today. For more details, get in touch with us at http://www.dishaeye.org/contact-us.

Glaucoma

The ability to see the beautiful world around you is one of the greatest gifts that life has to offer. However, many unfortunate people lose this gift when affected by Glaucoma, an eye disease that gradually takes away the vision.

Glaucoma does not show any symptoms during the preliminary stages. It affects the optic nerves located at the back of your eye and gradually destroys it. The damage is caused due to an increase in the pressure inside the eyes as the flow and drainage of aqueous humour are blocked. In other cases, Glaucoma is also caused by the poor supply of blood to the optic nerve fibers in the eyes; which could be due to defect or problem in the structure of the nerve itself.

How Lifestyle Affects Glaucoma?

Eye health and lifestyle choices share a deep relationship. Patients suffering from Glaucoma should know this connection. Certain changes in lifestyle can dramatically improve your ocular health. Apart from taking medications and undergoing treatment, these lifestyle changes can help you to combat this deadly disease often known as the silent thief of sight:

• Exercise for lowering eye pressure

There are certain exercises that help in reducing the Intraocular Pressure or IOP (the pressure inside the eye). The eye pressure increases during the first 5 minutes of exercising, but after that it decreases. Aerobics are considered good for decreasing eye pressure, thus keeping your eyes healthy. Exercises such as brisk walking, bicycling, swimming, jogging and gym conditioning three times a week drops the IOP substantially. Regular exercise improves the blood flow to the retina and the optic nerve.

• Obesity and Glaucoma

According to research, obesity is also closely linked to Glaucoma. A study conducted by Professor Michael Belkin and Dr Zohar Habot-Wilner, Goldschleger Eye Institute at the Sheba Medical Centre, found that excess weight creates pulmonary problems and as a result, the blood vessels in the eyes are affected which leads to loss of vision. They reviewed more than 20 studies involving thousands of patients all over the world and came to this conclusion.

• Alcohol Consumption and Eye pressure

Alcohol consumption can lower eye pressure for a short period, but experts suggest that daily alcohol consumption can cause higher eye pressure. Therefore, it is important to let your ophthalmologist know whether you are consuming alcohol or not because it will affect your readings during check-ups.

• Caffeine increases eye pressure

Drinking coffee increases eye pressure. Moderate amount of coffee is fine, but excessive caffeine intake should be avoided by Glaucoma patients. According to the data from the Blue Mountains Eye Study, patients with open-angle Glaucoma who regularly drank coffee had significantly higher mean IOP than those who didn’t drink coffee.

Source:

http://glaucomatoday.com/pdfs/0904_01.pdf
https://www.glaucomafoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=154
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-372725/Obesity-lead-blindness.html
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/ask-ophthalmologist-q/alcohol-eye-pressure
http://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma/do-lifestyle-choices-affect-glaucoma.php

Impact of Diet on Glaucoma

Everything you eat affects your overall health. A study by Spanish Society of Ophthalmology in 2014 found that eating the right food can help reduce the risk of Glaucoma. It also helps in preventing the disease and maintains healthy eyesight for long run.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/09/10/foods-to-help-reduce-glaucoma-risk.html

The Spanish study examined the diets of people as noted in two American Ophthalmological studies, and in one study from Rotterdam. As per this study, the food rich in Retinol (a type of vitamin A) such as cheese, milk, liver and butter helps to eliminate the risk of Glaucoma.
The researchers also found that higher consumption of green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, fruits and fruit juices help in reducing the risk of Glaucoma. Orange-coloured fruits such as apricots and peaches are also quite beneficial in preventing the disease.

The study also recommends foods rich in antioxidants such as green tea, dark chocolate and black tea for patients having Glaucoma. However, they also maintained that Glaucoma patients should also consume little or no caffeine, as that increase intraocular pressure and thus, worsen the disease.

Here are a few super foods that are beneficial for lowering the risk of Glaucoma and maintaining overall eye health:

1. Spinach

Spinach is excellent for the eye as it’s rich in lutein, carotenoid, a compound that is found in colourful fruits and vegetables. It protects cells from damage.

2. Walnuts

Among nuts, this is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids. In small amounts, these fatty acids can be converted to EPA or eicosapentaenoic acid. This is an important omega-3 fatty acid which is very useful for the eyes, apart from DHA. These are full of antioxidants and vitamin E that help in preventing inflammation and maintaining cardiovascular health. Walnuts also help in lowering C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation in the body. Consuming walnuts can cut your risk of cardiac problems to 50%.

3. Salmon

Cold-water fishes like salmon, mackerel, herring and albacore tuna are best for the back of the eyes. These fishes contain DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an important omega-3 fatty acid that concentrates in the retina and may prevent plaque.

4. Berries

Berries, especially blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, mulberries and even grapes are excellent foods for protecting cardiovascular health, which makes them equally beneficial for the health of the eyes too. Berries are great for lowering high blood pressure which increases the risk for Glaucoma and other eye diseases. Blueberries and blackberries also contain anthocyanins, containing dark purple pigments, which helps in fighting inflammation and improves blood flow. These pigments also help in preventing artery blockages and thus, maintain a supply of oxygen to the retina.

5. Orange Bell Peppers

Orange bell peppers are the best dietary source of zeaxanthin, a type of carotenoid that accumulates in the back of the eye. The higher the level of lutein and zeaxanthin, the lower the risk for eye diseases. Orange bell peppers also contain vitamin C. Other orange coloured foods such as goji berries, squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and carrots are also beneficial for eye health.

6. Avocados

Avocados are the best food for the eyes. This is one of the most nutrient-rich fruits. This fruit is rich in lutein which helps in prevention of eye diseases such as Glaucoma and macular degeneration. Avocados are also a great source of important eye nutrients such as Vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin B6 and vitamin E.

Source:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/09/10/foods-to-help-reduce-glaucoma-risk.html
http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-01-2011/10_foods_to_help_prevent_eye_disease.html

Living With Glaucoma

Do not let Glaucoma stop you from enjoying life. Even if you are diagnosed with Glaucoma, continue with what you were doing before the disease affected you.

• What to do when your vision begins to change?

People with Glaucoma have low vision. In other words, you might have problems doing routine things even if you are using glasses. Glaucoma can cause loss of contrast sensitivity, which leads to problems with glare, and reduce visual acuity. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.

• Cooperate with your doctor

If you have been newly diagnosed with Glaucoma, have your eye pressure checked frequently until it is under control. Even if your eye pressure is at a safe level, see your doctor several times a year for frequent checkups.

Source: https://www.glaucoma.org/GRF_Understanding_Glaucoma_EN.pdf

Other Health-related Issues Increasing the Risk of Glaucoma

Antihypertensive drugs at bedtime

There are a number of elderly patients who consume antihypertensive drugs. However, lowering blood pressure at night can lead to a hypotensive crisis. In other words, the blood pressure can dip too low to support ocular perfusion.

Sleep apnea

Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea can increase the risk of glaucoma development and increase the chances of its progression. Patients address sleep apnea by using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine at night. Although, CPAP is an effective non-surgical treatment for sleep apnea, visit http://affectivebrain.com/?attachment_id=5775 yet a few studies have shown that CPAP therapy can increase IOP, especially at night. So it’s important to consult your doctor before going for CPAP therapy.

Migraines

Migraines can increase the risk of Glaucoma progression in patients who are suffering from normal-tension glaucoma. So, it’s essential to consult both a neurosurgeon and an eye specialist for effectively treating this condition.

Marijuana

Accrding to research, it has been found that smoking marijuana lowers IOP in both normal people and people suffering from Glaucoma. However, it should be kept in mind that it lasts for only 3 or 4 hours. So, it is not advisable for Glaucoma patients to try Marijuana. Apart from that, since marijuana lowers the blood pressure, it can be harmful to the optic nerves (in glaucoma patients) by affecting the blood flow. The American Glaucoma Society, in a position statement on Glaucoma mentioned that, “Although marijuana can lower the intraocular pressure, its side effects and short duration of action, coupled with a lack of evidence that its use alters the course of Glaucoma, preclude recommending this drug in any form for the treatment of Glaucoma at present.”

Source:
https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/taking-control-lifestyle-choices-and-glaucoma
http://www.americanglaucomasociety.net/professionals/policy_statements/marijuana_glaucoma

How to Manage Glaucoma

Here is how you can manage Glaucoma and lead a healthy lifestyle:

• Do not forget to take your medications regularly. Make them a part of your daily routine. If you keep on forgetting, use an alarm clock or a smartphone to remind you about your medicine timings.
• Research and find out the possible side effects of the medicines. If your side effects are severe, then the medicines may not be right for you. In such cases, inform your doctor at the earliest.
• If you are not getting any results after using the medicine, let your doctor know. The doctor can help you to find out the reason behind your medications not working for you (may be due to change in daily routine or dietary routine). The doctor is the right person to solve such problems by changing the type or timing of your medications.
• Keep a thorough record of each medicine that you are taking. Note down the name and the dosage. Write down the number of times it should be taken every day. Carry it in your purse or wallet, or keep it in places where you can see it every day.
• Before you leave the doctor’s office, always schedule your next check-up. Put it on your calendar so that you do not forget.
• Keep your eyes clean and free of irritants. If you are a woman, be careful about eye cosmetics. Try using non-allergenic brands.
• Never rub your eyes. Few Glaucoma medications might make them feel itchy or blurry but avoid rubbing them.
• If you have had eye surgery, wear goggles when going out. Wear protective glasses when playing sports or doing some yard work.
• Take care of your body. A good general health is as important as taking care of your eyes.
• Eat healthy foods, exercise, quit smoking, avoid caffeine, and maintain a healthy weight. Be sure to check with your doctor before you start any strenuous exercise program.

Living with Glaucoma has an emotional and psychological aspect as well, https://holisticdental.org/klonopin-for-anxiety/. Living with a chronic, vision-threatening health condition is not easy. You might feel worried, depressed, and anxious when you are first diagnosed with Glaucoma. Research and learn more about the disease, and you’ll find that there are a number of ways that can help you to manage Glaucoma. Even if you lose a part of your vision, you still can enjoy and continue to lead an active and healthy life.

Source: https://www.glaucoma.org/GRF_Understanding_Glaucoma_EN.pdf

Mrs Ghosh, a 40 year old housewife in Kolkata, complained regularly of seeing things blurry. Later the blurred vision was accompanied with frequent headaches. She realised it was serious when she started seeing halos around light. She thought she had a cataract. But when she went to an ophthalmologist she was in for a shock. After a couple of tests, he told her she was suffering from Glaucoma. She’d not even heard of the disease. Mrs Ghosh isn’t alone. There are many who don’t know about this silent blinding disease.

Over here we give you a brief overview of Glaucoma, different types of the disease and the signs (though there aren’t many).

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to an eye condition that damages the optic nerves. The optic nerve sends images to the brain, thus helping you see everything properly. This condition develops as a result of fluid or pressure build-up just behind your eyes. This pressure, called Intraocular pressure, increases with time and eventually damages your optic nerves. If not treated in a timely manner, Glaucoma can also result in permanent loss of vision.

According to the statistics released by the National Rural Health Mission under their programme called National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) launched in 1976, Glaucoma is the third leading cause of blindness in India. According to their statistics, there are at least 12 million people in India who suffer from Glaucoma and about 1.5 million people who have turned blind due to this condition.

According to the World Health Organisation, Glaucoma is the reason behind 15% of the total blindness all across the globe. This means, on an average, about 5.2 million people all over the world turned blind due to Glaucoma.

Glaucoma mostly affects people who are above 40 years of age. However, children, even infants can also suffer from this condition.

These factors can increase your chances of developing Glaucoma:

Race

People of African-American descent are likely to suffer from Glaucoma more than any other race, and their degree of vision loss is also greater compared to others. People of Asian and Alaskan descent are at an increased risk of developing Angle-closure Glaucoma. On the other hand, Japanese people are vulnerable to Low-tension Glaucoma.

Medical Conditions

Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart conditions can also make you vulnerable to the risks of developing Glaucoma.

Family History

If you have a family history of Glaucoma, then you are most likely to develop this condition.

Eye Injury

Extreme trauma in the eye, such as a blow in your eye, instantly increased the eye pressure. Any kind of internal damage can also cause pressure build-up, thus exposing you to the risk of developing Glaucoma.

Use of Corticosteroid

Prolonged exposure to corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone, cortisone, and prednisone also leads to developing symptoms of Glaucoma.

Other eye-related factors

There are many factors such as optic nerve sensitivity, thinner corneas, to name a few, that increase your risk of developing Glaucoma. Conditions such as eye tumours, retinal detachment, and eye inflammation can also trigger Glaucoma.

What are different types of Glaucoma?
There are mainly four types of Glaucoma:

Primary Open- Angle Glaucoma

This is the most prevalent form of Glaucoma. Doctors often refer to it as Wide-Angle Glaucoma. This is mainly caused when the drainage system of your eye known as Trabecular Meshwork stops working. Apparently, it might look normal, but the fluid that flows through it stops. This ultimately causes fluid build-up inside the eye, increasing the eye pressure. Another theory suggests that Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma is caused by poor blood flow to the optic nerve.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

This type of Glaucoma is also known as Closed-angle or Narrow-Angle Glaucoma. This is not a very common form of Glaucoma. In this condition, the fluid (called aqueous humour) is blocked and can’t drain in the right way due to a narrow-angle between the Iris and the Cornea. In other words, the drainage angle in your eye formed by the Iris and the Cornea is blocked, thus, increasing fluid build-up and eye pressure. As you age, the lens of your eyes become large, thus pushing the Iris forward and eventually narrowing down the space between the Iris and the Cornea. With the narrow-angle, the fluid inside your eyes cannot find a way to pass, thus increasing the eye pressure.

Secondary Glaucoma

Any external injury or eye disease can cause secondary Glaucoma. Many medical conditions, physical injuries, eye abnormalities, and medication can result in secondary Glaucoma. Frequent eye surgeries can also cause this condition.

Low-Tension Glaucoma

Also known as Normal-Tension Glaucoma, this is a form of Glaucoma where the eye pressure is normal, but your optic nerve is damaged. The reason behind this particular condition is still unknown. Many theories suggest that people having an overtly sensitive optical nerve can develop this condition. Due to a reduced blood supply to the optic nerve as a result of a condition called Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), even a normal pressure on the optic nerve can cause severe damage to it.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

The primary sign of Glaucoma is peripheral vision loss. This often goes unnoticed until the disease reaches an advanced stage. Often people suffering from the eye disease don’t notice any symptoms; which is Glaucoma is often referred as “sneak thief of vision.”

As you age, get your eyes checked every 1 or 2 years. Occasionally the pressure inside your eyes can increase to a significant level resulting in headache, eye pain, and blurry vision.

Visit an eye specialist immediately if you experience the following symptoms:

– Loss of vision
– Seeing halos around light
– Nausea or vomiting
– Narrowed vision or tunnel vision
– Hazy looking eyes (especially in infants)
– Redness of the eye
– Eye pain

Diagnosis of Glaucoma

The eye specialist usually reviews your medical history and conducts a couple of eye examinations.

The tests for Glaucoma include:

Visual Acuity Measurement

This test is conducted to measure whether the vision of the patient is affected or not.

Tonometry

This test is for measuring the eye pressure to determine the risk of developing Glaucoma.

Pachymetry

This test measures the corneal thickness. People who have a thin Cornea are at a greater risk of developing Glaucoma.

Visual Field Testing or Perimetry

This test is for checking whether the field of vision has been affected by Glaucoma or not. With Visual Field Testing, the eye specialist measures your peripheral vision and the central vision by either determining the faintest amount of light that can be detected in various locations of the vision or by determining the sensitivity to targets.

Evaluating the Retina

The eye specialist might take photographs or scans of your optic nerves in order to monitor any changes over the time.

Other tests

Doctors also conduct Serial Tonometry. Under this, several pressure measurements are taken to look for any changes in the eye pressure throughout the day. Apart from that, a number of devices can also be used to measure the thickness of the nerve fibre. This is done to look for tissue loss on specific areas of the layers of the nerve fibre.

Treatment of Glaucoma

The damage caused by Glaucoma cannot be reversed; however, with proper treatment and regular checkups, the condition can be kept under control, preventing vision loss. The goal of treatment for Glaucoma is to lower the eye pressure or Intraocular Pressure. Depending on the severity of your condition, the eye specialist can undertake several treatment options which include:

1.Using Eye drops

The treatment of Glaucoma often starts with prescribing eye drops. These drops help in decreasing the eye pressure by improving the fluid drainage in your eye. Prescription eye drops include:

Prostaglandins: This helps in increasing the outflow of fluid in your eye, thus reducing eye pressure. However, this drop might result in side effects such as redness of eye, stinging sensation and changes in the pigments of the eyelids.

Beta Blockers: This helps in reducing the production of eye fluid, thus lowering the eye pressure.

Alpha-Adrenergic Agonists: This drop reduces the production of aqueous humour and improves the fluid drainage. This drop also has a few side effects such as fatigue, swollen eyes, high blood pressure, and redness of eyes.

Miotic or Cholinergic Agents: This eye drop increases the fluid drainage from the eye. The side effects include dim vision, smaller pupils, and nearsightedness.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors: This drop is seldom used for Glaucoma but this medication reduces the fluid production in the eye. The possible side effects of the drop include frequent urination, metallic taste, tingling sensation in fingers and toes.

2.Oral Medications

The doctor might also prescribe oral medication if eye drops do not work. They often prescribe carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Possible side effects include tingling in the fingers and toes, frequent urination, kidney stones depression, https://holisticdental.org/xanax-treat-anxiety/ and stomach upset.

3.Surgery and other therapies

Other treatment options for Glaucoma include laser therapy and various surgical procedures. However, these treatment options can result in complications such as pain, infection, inflammation, redness, bleeding, loss of vision, and abnormally high or low eye pressure. The doctor might also suggest eye surgery and therapies. The following procedures are followed to treat Glaucoma:

Laser therapy: Laser trabeculoplasty is for people suffering from open-angle glaucoma. The doctor uses a laser beam to open the blocked channels in the trabecular meshwork. It takes several weeks before the full effect of this therapy becomes apparent.

Drainage tubes: In this process, the eye surgeon inserts a small tube in your eye.

Filtering surgery: In this procedure, the surgeon does a surgical procedure called a trabeculectomy. He or she creates an opening in the white area of the eye or sclera and then removes some part of the trabecular meshwork.

Electrocautery: The eye doctor may suggest a minimally invasive process for removing tissues from the trabecular meshwork. The doctor uses a small electrocautery device called a Trabecutome to perform this procedure.

4.Treatment for acute angle-closure glaucoma

This condition is a medical emergency, and if you have been diagnosed with this condition, urgent treatment is required for reducing the eye pressure. This requires both medication and laser or other surgical processes.
The doctor can also perform a procedure called laser peripheral iridotomy in which the doctor makes a small hole in the iris with a laser. This allows the flow of aqueous humour, thus decreasing eye pressure.

5.Other emerging therapies

Researchers across the globe are also evaluating the effectiveness of new drugs, surgical processes and devices (such as iStent, others) for treating Glaucoma.
Glaucoma cannot be prevented, but an early diagnosis can help you in controlling the disease.

We hope that this article has helped you gain some useful insights on Glaucoma and its treatment.