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What Signs and Symptoms Indicate Glaucoma?
The symptoms of glaucoma (also known as eye pressure) are frequently silent at first. It slowly advances over time and kills the optic nerve. Vision deteriorates gradually, and by the time complaints surface, the visual field has been permanently damaged. When a person experiences a "acute glaucoma crisis," their eye pressure spikes abruptly. Redness, pain, blurred vision, seeing colored rings around lights, nausea, and vomiting are other eye symptoms. Such patients can have the diagnosis made earlier.
What is Normal Intraocular Pressure?
Intraocular pressure is recognized as a personal value in modern society. In healthy eyes, the normal intraocular pressure ranges between 9 and 20 mmHg. There are patients with high eye pressure and no damage in addition to those with low eye pressure and glaucoma damage. As a result, the upper limit of eye pressure varies depending on the individual and risk factors.
How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
Usually, a glaucoma diagnosis is made by chance during an eye exam.
The physician checks the optic nerves and measures the pressure in the eyes during the examination.
When someone is suspected, he or she asks for advanced tests like pachymetry, visual field, OCT, or HRT.
The physician then evaluates all the evidence before making a diagnosis.
How Is Treatment for Glaucoma?
The treatment's main goal is to keep the patient's lifelong vision intact. Medication, laser therapy, and surgery are the 3 types of glaucoma treatment.
Typically, medication is used to begin treatment; if the damage persists, laser or surgical intervention may be necessary.
The patient's condition determines which treatment will be used. Age of the patient, early or delayed diagnosis, and proper medication use are all crucial considerations when selecting a treatment plan.
Treatment only stops further vision loss; it cannot restore old vision.
An alternative glaucoma treatment option is SLT Laser (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty). When a patient is taking medication, it provides a supportive solution when the treatment is insufficient. It only works for open-angle glaucoma. SLT is a straightforward, no-risk treatment that takes 3–4 minutes and is very effective in carefully chosen patients. By 20–30%, it can lower eye pressure. The treatment's efficacy lasts between six months and two years and can be repeated every six months.
What Happens If Glaucoma Is Untreated?
By pressing on the layer of nerve fibers behind the eye, high eye pressure harms the retina. Over time, this damage grows progressively worse. The patient complains of being unable to see during this time as their visual field gradually gets smaller. Blindness will occur if the condition is not treated.
TREATMENT IS ONLY ABLE TO SAFEGUARD THE PRESENT VISION. RETURNING WITH A GOOD SIGHTING IS NOT POSSIBLE. DUE TO THIS, EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS ESSENTIAL.
What specific factors should glaucoma patients consider?
As instructed by the doctor, drops should be administered every day at the same time.
Drug use shouldn't be stopped, but the doctor should be consulted instead if there are side effects like bleeding and burning that are related to the medication.
If more than one drop is required for treatment, there should be a 5-minute interval between drops.
Visits for control exams should be made at the times the doctor specifies.
Asthma, diabetes, and other systemic diseases should be treated. It is advised to follow general health guidelines like exercising, getting enough sleep, and quitting smoking.
Patients who have a family history of glaucoma, hypertension, or diabetes should have an eye exam once a year.
Your eye pressure may increase as a result of some medications you take. Bring your prescription medications to your eye doctor as a result.
Mention that you have glaucoma and display the drops you use when you visit doctors other than an ophthalmologist.
Who May Suffer From Glaucoma Disease?
Those with a family history of glaucoma,
Those with HYPERTENSION,
Those with Diabetes,
Myopia Patients,
People over 40 years of age,
Smokers,
Long-term cortisone users should exercise caution in order to prevent glaucoma.
You can contact our hospital with any type of eye health concern to receive detailed information about your eye issues as well as to learn the steps involved in treatment.
