Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that can damage the eye’s optics and nerves. It is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over 60 years of age. Blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented. Early detection and treatment are essential to reduce the chances of blindness.
If glaucoma is detected at a later stage, surgery and other treatment options may prevent blindness, but it could do irreparable damage to the vision. For this reason, knowing the early signs and symptoms of glaucoma is extremely vital. In this blog, we will discuss the seriousness of glaucoma, the types of glaucoma, and most importantly, the early signs and symptoms and what treatment options you have.
Understand the Early Signs of Glaucoma – Protect Your Vision Today!
A] What Is Glaucoma Disease And How Serious Is It?
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damages the optic nerve over time. Optic nerves are vital in transmitting visual information to the brain, which you see as a clear picture. The optic nerve can be damaged through excess aqueous humour.
Aqueous humour is a clear liquid that constantly fills the front part of the eye. This fluid is pushed out of the eye through various channels in your iris and cornea, called the drainage angle. If the drainage angle is not working due to some issue, the fluid builds up, putting pressure on your optical nerves.
This reduces the blood flow to your optical nerves; as a result, your optical nerves start to die. If this is not diagnosed and treated in time, you will gradually develop blind spots in your vision which may result in blindness.
B] Types Of Glaucoma
1. Open-Angle Glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma, which may be noticed by gradual loss of vision. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when too much pressure builds up in the eye due to poor drainage angle. This type of glaucoma is often painless and there aren’t many symptoms in the early stages.
2. Closed-Angle Glaucoma
Unlike open-angle glaucoma which builds up gradually, closed-angle glaucoma is sudden. Closed-angle glaucoma is comparatively rare and only occurs when the angle between the iris and cornea is too narrow; hence, it is also known as narrow-angle glaucoma. Closed-angle glaucoma is often painful and is a medical emergency.
3. Normal-Tension Glaucoma
Normal-tension glaucoma is unlike any other glaucoma, where patients can develop optic nerve damage without having increased eye pressure. The real reason why this happens is still unknown to doctors. Some doctors believe that normal-tension glaucoma is caused by extreme sensitivity or a lack of blood flow to your optic nerve.
4. Congenital Glaucoma
Congenital glaucoma occurs in children who are born with a defect in the angle of optic nerves. This prevents the normal flow of aqueous humour, causing vision problems. Congenital glaucoma is the easiest to recognise with symptoms, such as cloudy eyes, excessive tearing, or sensitivity to light. The cause of congenital glaucoma is genetics.
C] Glaucoma Signs And Symptoms You Must Be Aware Of
Patients who are suffering from open-angle glaucoma mostly do not have any symptoms. The only signs of glaucoma patients will notice is the gradual development of blind spots, and even that occurs at a later stage. Patients often lose their peripheral vision, also known as side-vision first. The only way to notice open-angled glaucoma at an early stage is to have regular eye exams. Patients must also consider the fact that glaucoma is irreversible, which is why seeking medical help as soon as possible is the best option.
Closed-angle glaucoma is more easily recognised as happens quickly and is indicated by severe pain. Closed-angle glaucoma can cause immediate damage to your optic nerves, therefore, if you recognise any of these symptoms, see a doctor quickly.
- Redness in eyes.
- Vision loss
- Seeing halos around lights
- Severe headaches, especially on the side of the affected eye
- Feeling nauseated
Normal-tension glaucoma has almost no early signs and symptoms of glaucoma. Patients do not even feel a slightly high pressure in their iris, which may be noticeable in open-angle glaucoma. The only way a person can know is the gradually blurry vision and loss of peripheral vision in later stages.
Glaucoma in children, especially infants, can be easily recognisable. They show clear signs of congenital glaucoma, such as a cloudy eye, tears without crying, increased blinking, and nearsightedness that gets worse.
D] How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
If you have any symptoms of high eye pressure we urge you to see a medical professional at once. Although high eye pressure may not always result in glaucoma, it is best to get a doctor’s opinion. Your medical provider may use the following ways to diagnose glaucoma:
- Check your optic nerves using a dilated eye exam.
- Check the iris and cornea using Gonioscopy.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is used to check if optic nerves are damaged.
- The ocular pressure test (tonometry) helps to measure eye pressure.
- Corneal thickness is measured using Pachymetry.
- The doctor may also examine the inside of your eye with a special microscope called a slit lamp.
- Eye-chart test to determine vision loss.
E] Glaucoma Treatment Options
Glaucoma treatment can help patients slow or prevent vision loss, especially at an early stage. However, unfortunately, the treatment options cannot reverse vision loss caused by glaucoma. Different types of glaucoma are treated differently. Some of the treatment options include eye drops, oral medicines, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of approaches.
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Conclusion
Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that shouldn’t be ignored at all. That being said, it is also important to understand that glaucoma often goes unnoticed; hence, being aware of the glaucoma symptoms is extremely crucial. Glaucoma can be managed before it leads to serious vision loss through a combination of regular eye check-ups and early diagnoses. Contact Paragon Clinic to book an appointment today!
FAQs On Glaucoma
Ans: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases, which are caused by damage to the optic nerves that leads to vision loss and eventually blindness.
Ans: The signs and symptoms of glaucoma are very slow at an early stage and often go unnoticed. Some patients may notice distorted or blurry vision, loss of peripheral vision, and blind spots.
Ans: Patients with glaucoma may experience loss of peripheral vision, blurry vision, or blind spots. While treatment can slow down and halt further vision loss, it cannot reverse the effects of vision loss.
Ans: Prescribed eye drops are the most common treatment for glaucoma at an early stage. Other treatment options for glaucoma include oral medication, laser treatment, surgery, or a combination of approaches.
Ans: When the naturally building fluid in the eye does not drain properly, it builds up in front of the eye, increasing the intraocular pressure. High intraocular pressure can lead to glaucoma.
Ans: People with high internal eye pressure, above 55 years of age, and people with a family history of glaucoma have a higher risk of developing glaucoma. People of certain ethnicities and people with medical conditions, such as diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, and sickle cell anaemia are also likely to develop glaucoma.
Mr. Bal Manoj
With over 25+ years of experience in advancing eye care, Mr. Bal Manoj serves as director and co-founder of Paragon Clinic in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, and Stafford. His expertise in cataract surgery, glaucoma, and general ophthalmology, coupled with a track record of 10,000+ successful procedures, reflects his commitment to excellence. Connect with Mr. Bal Manoj today for expert eye care solutions.
About Mr. Bal Manoj
With over 25+ years of experience in advancing eye care, Mr. Bal Manoj serves as director and co-founder of Paragon Clinic in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, and Stafford. His expertise in cataract surgery, glaucoma, and general ophthalmology, coupled with a track record of 10,000+ successful procedures, reflects his commitment to excellence. Connect with Mr. Bal Manoj today for expert eye care solutions.