Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the most serious eyesight threatening condition. It usually manifests as a painless, gradual loss of vision. The lost vision can never be recovered. However, medical or surgical treatment can prevent or retard further loss of vision.

Who is at a Risk for Glaucoma?

Anyone can develop glaucoma. Some people are at higher risk than others. They include:

• Everyone over the age of 40 yrs.
• People with family history of glaucoma.
• Diabetics
• People with near sightedness (Myopia) for open angle type and far sightedness (hyperopia) for close angle type
• People with Hypertension
• People with Migraines

Common Symptoms of Glaucoma

In most cases of glaucoma, the patient is not aware of the gradual loss of sight until vision is significantly impaired. However, if glaucoma progresses without adequate treatment, the following symptoms may occur in some individuals:

• Pain around the eyes when coming out from darkness (e.g., as soon as the person comes out of a cinema hall)
• Colored halo rings seen around light bulbs especially in the mornings and nights
• Frequent change of reading glasses, headaches, pain, and redness of the eyes
• Reduced vision in dim illumination and during nights
• Gradual decrease of side vision with the progression of glaucoma

Types of Glaucoma

• Open-Angle Glaucoma
• Angle-Closure Glaucoma
• Low-Tension or Normal-Tension Glaucoma
• Congenital Glaucoma
• Secondary Glaucoma Types