faq_category: Glaucoma

Glaucoma is of several types but broadly divided into 2 groups depending on the appearance of the drainage angle – and Angle closure are two main types of glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a complex and multifactorial eye disease with certain characteristics such as vision loss and optic nerve damage. Usually increased (IOP) intraocular pressure is present in glaucoma, but patients with normal IOP can also develop glaucoma.

The key eye part affected by glaucoma is the optic nerve head, which forms an essential part of the central nervous system that transfers message to the brain for visuals.

This will be determined by your doctor. Once glaucoma is controlled and stabilized, a visit to the eye doctor is required every 3-4 months. Further advancement of glaucoma can be controlled with regular clinic visits.

In this condition, optic nerve damage and side vision loss occur even when eye pressure is normal.

Though glaucoma is not life-threatening, it does affect the normal lifestyle of the patient. There is a constant fear about the future, the vision impairment affects employment, driving, and independence. Glaucoma can be controlled with timely treatment. Only acute angle closure may be prevented with a laser treatment.

Glaucoma can be diagnosed by using several clinical tests like tonometry (measuring the pressure of the eye), gonioscopy (visualizing the drainage angle) and most importantly, fundoscopy (visualizing the optic nerve). Investigations such as visual field test for side vision, corneal thickness (pachymetry) are also done. Sometimes, optic nerve imaging is ordered (OCT) and at yet…

To protect your vision, have regular eye examinations at the eye clinic, eat healthy incorporating green leafy vegetables and colored fruits – like papaya, plums and exercise regularly. Keep a check on changes occurring in the eye like blurry vision, irritation etc.

Glaucoma is broadly divided into two groups – open angle and closed angle. In the open-angle, the drainage area of the fluid called aqueous is open and the damage that leads to glaucoma is microscopic. In, we can actually visualize the closure of the drainage area by a special clinical test called gonioscopy.

It is not necessary you will get glaucoma if your parent has been affected, but you have a ten-fold higher risk of getting affected by the disease. Early and regular eye examination will save you from the devastating effects of glaucoma.