Glaucoma - Screening And Treatment
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma develops when fluid accumulates in front of your eyes. Increased intraocular pressure is caused by excess fluid that is formed. Increased intraocular pressure can cause optic nerve damage. The optic nerve transports data from the eye to the brain. Damage to the optic nerve can result in serious vision problems.
Types Of Glaucoma
Primary open-angle glaucoma
Primary open-angle glaucoma is a type of open-angle glaucoma. The most common form of glaucoma. It occurs when the fluid in the eye does not drain properly from the drainage canals of the eye. The fluid becomes clogged in the canals, much like a clogged sink drain becomes clogged with water. This raises the pressure in the eyes. Open-angle glaucoma develops gradually over months or years. Initially, most people have no symptoms or vision changes. Open-angle glaucoma typically affects both eyes simultaneously.
Angle-closure glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma, also known as narrow-angle glaucoma. In the United States, this type of glaucoma is uncommon. It typically affects only one eye at a time. The drainage canals in the eyes are covered up in this type of glaucoma, as if a stopper was placed over a drain. Acute or chronic closed-angle glaucoma can occur.
Acute closed-angle glaucoma
Acute closed-angle glaucoma causes an increase in eye pressure that is sudden. It's a true medical emergency. If untreated, people with acute closed-angle glaucoma can lose their vision in a matter of hours.
Chronic closed-angle glaucoma
Chronic closed-angle glaucoma takes time to develop. In many cases, no symptoms appear until the damage is severe.
Causes Of Glaucoma
- The doctor will go over your medical history and perform a comprehensive eye exam. Your provider may conduct a variety of tests, including:
- Tonometry is the measurement of eye pressure.
- A dilated eye exam and screening and testing are done to identify optic nerve damage.
- A visual field test is used to look for areas of vision loss.
- Pachymetry is a test that measures the thickness of the cornea.
- Gonioscopy is the examination of the discharge angle.
Symptoms
The symptoms of glaucoma vary depending on the type and stage of your disease.
There are no symptoms in the early stages. Patchy blind spots appear in your side vision Later on, you may have difficulty seeing things in your central vision.
Open-angle Glaucoma
- There are no symptoms in the early stages.
- Patchy blind spots appear in your side vision gradually. Side vision is also referred to as peripheral vision.
- Later on, you may have difficulty seeing things in your central vision.
Acute angle-closure Glaucoma
- Extensive headache
- Eye pain that is excruciating
- Nauseousness or vomiting
- Vision distortion
- Lights with halo effects or coloured rings around them
- Redness of the eyes
Normal-tension Glaucoma
- There are no symptoms in the early stages.
- Blurred vision gradually develops
- Loss of side vision in later stages
Pigmentary Glaucoma
- Lights with halo effects
- Exercise causes blurred vision
- Progressive loss of side vision
Glaucoma In Children
- Eye disease in children
- An eye that is dull or cloudy
- Vision distortion
- Increasing nearsightedness
- Headache
