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Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' - Health - Nairaland

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Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' by jauntty: 2:44pm On Sep 24, 2014
GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to your eye's optic nerve and gets worse over time. It's often associated with a buildup of pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma tends to be inherited and may not show up until later in life.
The increased pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to the brain. If damage to the optic nerve from high eye pressure continues, glaucoma will cause permanent loss of vision. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total permanent blindness within a few years.
Because most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain from this increased pressure, it is important to see your eye doctor regularly so that glaucoma can be diagnosed and treated before long-term visual loss occurs.
If you are over the age of 40 and if you have a family history of glaucoma, you should have a complete eye exam with an eye doctor every one to two years. If you have health problems such as diabetes or a family history of glaucoma or are at risk for other eye diseases, you may need to visit your eye doctor more frequently.

Why Does Pressure Rise in the Eye to Cause Glaucoma?


Glaucoma usually occurs when pressure in your eye increases. This can happen when eye fluid isn't circulating normally in the front part of the eye.
Normally, this fluid, called aqueous humor, flows out of the eye through a mesh-like channel. If this channel becomes blocked, fluid builds up, causing glaucoma. The direct cause of this blockage is unknown, but doctors do know that it can be inherited, meaning it is passed from parents to children.
Less common causes of glaucoma include a blunt or chemical injury to the eye, severe eye infection, blockage of blood vessels in the eye, inflammatory conditions of the eye, and occasionally eye surgery to correct another condition. Glaucoma usually occurs in both eyes, but it may involve each eye to a different extent.

What Are the Types of Glaucoma?

There are two main types of glaucoma:
1. Open-angle glaucoma. Also called wide-angle glaucoma, this is the most common type of glaucoma. The structures of the eye appear normal, but fluid in the eye does not flow properly through the drain of the eye, called the trabecular meshwork.
2. Angle-closure glaucoma. Also called acute or chronic angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma, this type of glaucoma is less common but can cause a sudden buildup of pressure in the eye. Drainage may be poor because the angle between the iris and the cornea (where a drainage channel for the eye is located) is too narrow

Q. Is there any way to prevent glaucoma?

There is nothing that will prevent glaucoma, but you can slow down its development with early treatment. Therefore, it is very important that you have regular eye exams. Your doctor will perform a series of painless tests -- eye pressure measurements, dilated eye exams, and sometimes visual field testing -- to check for any changes in your eye or in your vision. With early detection, glaucoma can often be controlled with medications, either eye drops or pills. If your glaucoma doesn't respond to medication, your doctor may also recommend surgery. Remember, about half of people with glaucoma don't know they have it, and doctors cannot reverse damage from glaucoma. Vision lost is irreversible, you can't get your vision back once it is lost. Your best protection is to get regular eye exams, every couple of years if you are over 40 or on a schedule recommended by your doctor.
It's important for adults to have eye exams on a regular basis to check for problems. Regular eye exams are critical for detecting: Glaucoma Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) Cataracts Diabetic retinopathy But everyone needs regular eye exams. This is particularly important if you have risk factors or a family history of eye problems. Children need their vision checked at 6 months, 3 years, and before first grade. These exams should be done during preventative pediatrician visits...

Q. If I have glaucoma, will I become blind?

The chances are good that you will not go blind if you take your medication correctly and regularly and follow up with your doctor. Treatment significantly slows the damage that occurs to the optic nerve because of the high pressure in the eye. In fact, if you take your eye drops on schedule each day, you'll probably keep your eyesight until the day you die of old age!

Q. If my parent has glaucoma, will I get it?

Not necessarily, but it does increase your risk. Other factors that may increase your risk are:
• Being over age 50
• Being over age 40 and African-American
• Having a family history of glaucoma
• Having a history of serious eye injury
• Taking steroid medications
• Having diabetes
• Being nearsighted
• Having high blood pressure
People with these risk factors should have their eyes examined on a regular basis to look for the disease.

Q. Are there effective treatments for glaucoma?

Yes. There are many different types of medications (in eye drops or pills) that are used to treat glaucoma. Typically, the doctor will start you on an eye drop formula. The medications work two ways: Some decrease how much fluid is produced in the eye; others help the fluid flow out better. Many people can preserve their vision if they take their medications as scheduled and visit their doctor regularly. Note: Medications for glaucoma -- even eye drops -- can affect the entire body, so you should alert all of your doctors that you are taking them.

In some people, however, drugs alone do not control the eye pressure, and surgery is needed. One type of surgery called laser trabeculoplasty uses a laser to improve the flow of fluids out of the eye. This can be done in your doctor's office. There are also several conventional surgeries -- the most common is called trabeculectomy -- in which your doctor creates a new drainage path in the eye under the eyelid. This surgery must be done in an operating room. After both of these procedures, people may still have to take eye drops to further lower the eye pressure.

You can ask your Questions.

1 Like

Re: Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' by TRADELYN: 2:56pm On Sep 24, 2014
cool

Great piece here.

What are the major early signs/symptoms to watch out for apart from the little tips stated above?

1 Like

Re: Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' by jnrbayano(m): 3:20pm On Sep 24, 2014
Worthy frontpage material.

I already learnt a lot.

1 Like

Re: Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' by jauntty: 5:02pm On Sep 24, 2014
Thks. I see glaucoma cases daily in our Clinic and the increase is alarming
Re: Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' by Profcamsey(m): 5:09pm On Sep 24, 2014
Glaucoma, I always write glycoma. Na y i dey fail simple biology b diz oh

1 Like

Re: Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' by jauntty: 5:17pm On Sep 24, 2014
I will try and share Real life experiences of people with glaucoma here. (I will change the names and details). I really want people to start taking their Eye health seriously. Thousands of People with POAG Glaucoma come to NL everyday and they are not even aware that they have a potentially blinding disease. So let's tell a friend to tell a friend.
Re: Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' by PapiShanghai95: 10:50pm On Apr 06, 2019
jauntty:
GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to your eye's optic nerve and gets worse over time. It's often associated with a buildup of pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma tends to be inherited and may not show up until later in life.
The increased pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to the brain. If damage to the optic nerve from high eye pressure continues, glaucoma will cause permanent loss of vision. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total permanent blindness within a few years.
Because most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain from this increased pressure, it is important to see your eye doctor regularly so that glaucoma can be diagnosed and treated before long-term visual loss occurs.
If you are over the age of 40 and if you have a family history of glaucoma, you should have a complete eye exam with an eye doctor every one to two years. If you have health problems such as diabetes or a family history of glaucoma or are at risk for other eye diseases, you may need to visit your eye doctor more frequently.

Why Does Pressure Rise in the Eye to Cause Glaucoma?


Glaucoma usually occurs when pressure in your eye increases. This can happen when eye fluid isn't circulating normally in the front part of the eye.
Normally, this fluid, called aqueous humor, flows out of the eye through a mesh-like channel. If this channel becomes blocked, fluid builds up, causing glaucoma. The direct cause of this blockage is unknown, but doctors do know that it can be inherited, meaning it is passed from parents to children.
Less common causes of glaucoma include a blunt or chemical injury to the eye, severe eye infection, blockage of blood vessels in the eye, inflammatory conditions of the eye, and occasionally eye surgery to correct another condition. Glaucoma usually occurs in both eyes, but it may involve each eye to a different extent.

What Are the Types of Glaucoma?

There are two main types of glaucoma:
1. Open-angle glaucoma. Also called wide-angle glaucoma, this is the most common type of glaucoma. The structures of the eye appear normal, but fluid in the eye does not flow properly through the drain of the eye, called the trabecular meshwork.
2. Angle-closure glaucoma. Also called acute or chronic angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma, this type of glaucoma is less common but can cause a sudden buildup of pressure in the eye. Drainage may be poor because the angle between the iris and the cornea (where a drainage channel for the eye is located) is too narrow

Q. Is there any way to prevent glaucoma?

There is nothing that will prevent glaucoma, but you can slow down its development with early treatment. Therefore, it is very important that you have regular eye exams. Your doctor will perform a series of painless tests -- eye pressure measurements, dilated eye exams, and sometimes visual field testing -- to check for any changes in your eye or in your vision. With early detection, glaucoma can often be controlled with medications, either eye drops or pills. If your glaucoma doesn't respond to medication, your doctor may also recommend surgery. Remember, about half of people with glaucoma don't know they have it, and doctors cannot reverse damage from glaucoma. Vision lost is irreversible, you can't get your vision back once it is lost. Your best protection is to get regular eye exams, every couple of years if you are over 40 or on a schedule recommended by your doctor.
It's important for adults to have eye exams on a regular basis to check for problems. Regular eye exams are critical for detecting: Glaucoma Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) Cataracts Diabetic retinopathy But everyone needs regular eye exams. This is particularly important if you have risk factors or a family history of eye problems. Children need their vision checked at 6 months, 3 years, and before first grade. These exams should be done during preventative pediatrician visits...

Q. If I have glaucoma, will I become blind?

The chances are good that you will not go blind if you take your medication correctly and regularly and follow up with your doctor. Treatment significantly slows the damage that occurs to the optic nerve because of the high pressure in the eye. In fact, if you take your eye drops on schedule each day, you'll probably keep your eyesight until the day you die of old age!

Q. If my parent has glaucoma, will I get it?

Not necessarily, but it does increase your risk. Other factors that may increase your risk are:
• Being over age 50
• Being over age 40 and African-American
• Having a family history of glaucoma
• Having a history of serious eye injury
• Taking steroid medications
• Having diabetes
• Being nearsighted
• Having high blood pressure
People with these risk factors should have their eyes examined on a regular basis to look for the disease.

Q. Are there effective treatments for glaucoma?

Yes. There are many different types of medications (in eye drops or pills) that are used to treat glaucoma. Typically, the doctor will start you on an eye drop formula. The medications work two ways: Some decrease how much fluid is produced in the eye; others help the fluid flow out better. Many people can preserve their vision if they take their medications as scheduled and visit their doctor regularly. Note: Medications for glaucoma -- even eye drops -- can affect the entire body, so you should alert all of your doctors that you are taking them.

In some people, however, drugs alone do not control the eye pressure, and surgery is needed. One type of surgery called laser trabeculoplasty uses a laser to improve the flow of fluids out of the eye. This can be done in your doctor's office. There are also several conventional surgeries -- the most common is called trabeculectomy -- in which your doctor creates a new drainage path in the eye under the eyelid. This surgery must be done in an operating room. After both of these procedures, people may still have to take eye drops to further lower the eye pressure.

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You can ask your Questions.
Re: Glaucoma : What You Need To Know About This 'silent Thief Of Sight' by obecha(f): 5:21pm On Mar 04, 2023
Can you help me with names of top eye specialists hospital or doctor I can take my little girl to properly check why the pressure of her eye is high. Thanks

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