What is Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a chronic (long standing) disease in which nerve of the eye (Known as optic nerve which transmits all visual impulses from retina to brain) gets damaged.
STRUCTURES AND FUNCTION OF THE EYE
The human eye is structured very much like a powerful camera. Light rays are focused via the cornea and lens on the retina. (The retina is like the photosensitive film of the camera).
The Eye with Glaucoma
The Eye with Glaucoma: In most types of glaucoma, the eye’s internal drainage system becomes clogged or the iris gets apposed the peripheral cornea so there is no space for fluid to reach the drainage system.
How Eye Works
The human eye is a window to the real world. It represents a gateway to the process we call vision.
History of glaucoma
In the Hippocratic Aphorisms (approximately 2600 years ago) the term glaucoma was used to describe blindness coming on in advancing years associated with a glazed appearance of the pupil.
Glaucoma Epidemiology
Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive disease of the optic nerve that affects approximately 70 million people around the world. It is the second most common cause of...
Types of glaucoma
There are two main types of glaucoma: Primary glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. Primary glaucoma has tow subtypes: open angle glaucoma and angle closure glaucoma.
Risk Factors
Glaucoma is quite common in the Indian population. Blindness due to glaucoma in India is quoted from 0.5% to 4%. Nearly 12% of glaucoma patients are blind in India.
How Do I Know I Have GLAUCOMA?
Open angle Glaucoma: usually in earlier stage of disease patient with open angle glaucoma do not have any symptoms.
DIAGNOSIS OF GLAUCOMA
To definitely say that a person has glaucoma requires several tests, and many times these need to be repeated over time before confirming the diagnosis.
WHO IS A ‘GLAUCOMA SUSPECT’
These individuals are not termed as “glaucoma suspect” patients till definitive proof suggests progressive changes. Hence this group of patients needs to be on regular follow up in order to diagnose and treat the glaucoma early.
How glaucoma is treated
How is Glaucoma Treated?
Once the diagnosis of glaucoma is confirmed, the chief aim of treatment is:
Medical Treatment
Medical Treatment: This consists of eye drops, which have to be put into the eyes on a daily basis. Glaucoma medications are required for long periods usually life-long.
Laser Treatment
Laser Treatment: There are many types of laser procedures, which may be carried out for treatment of glaucoma.
Alternative medicine for glaucoma
Glaucoma Management: Do Alternative medicine & non Pharmaceutical approaches have any role to play?
Patient education
As with most diseases, patient education, a lifelong learning process, should be the main focus for patients with glaucoma.
Current research
Medical research is a continuum that spans diverse realms of laboratory research and several kinds of clinical research.
Myths
Myths and truths about Glaucoma Myth #1: Glaucoma is a disease that only happens to older people
Glaucoma surgery
All glaucoma surgery procedures (whether laser or non-laser) are designed to accomplish one of two basic results: decrease the production of intraocular fluid (aqueous humor) or increase the outflow (drainage) of this same fluid. Occasionally, a procedure will accomplish both.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE GLAUCOMA SURGERIES
The goal of all glaucoma surgery is to lower eye pressure. MIGS has become a commonly used abbreviation in the glaucoma world. It stands for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.