Glaucoma: Overview, Types, Symptoms, Causes, Risks and Treatment

Glaucoma is an eye disease generally due to a low intake of vitamins and essential nutrients. Any disorder creates high pressure in your eyes which leads to this disease. The disease affects optic nerves adversely and leads to blindness and other optical issues.

Keep reading to know about what Glaucoma is and its effects.

Glaucoma is referred to as a group of eye diseases that are harmful to optical nerves and hamper vision. When the drainage angle (the area through which the eye fluid or aqueous humour drains out) does not function properly, it causes high pressure inside the eyes and leads to Glaucoma. This disease comes genetically and occurs typically in old age.

Though Glaucoma does not cause any pain, it may lead to vision loss. However, it is curable if diagnosed at the right time, and the vision can also be returned.

1. Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

It is the basic form of the disease that is caused due to blockage of optic nerves. The process is slow and involves no pain. Further, it will not affect your vision at the early stage. People with weak optic nerves are prone to this type of Glaucoma. However, a regular eye examination can reveal this disease's symptoms.

2. Angle-closure Glaucoma

People with iris close to the drainage angles in their eyes face this type of Glaucoma. Here, the iris blocks the drainage channels; thus, the eyes get an immediate shock of high pressure. In this situation, patients can face pain and other complications. Therefore, it is recommended to call a doctor as soon as possible.

3. Normal-tension Glaucoma

Normal-tension Glaucoma happens if you face low pressure inside your eyes due to low fluid production. Though the range remains low to normal, it develops signs of Glaucoma, such as damage to optic nerves and blind spots.

4. Secondary Glaucoma

Secondary Glaucoma happens due to injury, medication, accidents, eye inflammation etc. This type also attacks optic nerves adversely and results in vision loss.

5. Pigmentary Glaucoma

When pigmentary granules from the Iris break off with eye fluid that is Aqueous Humour and blocks the drainage channel, it is called Pigmentary Glaucoma. Heavy jogging can sometimes cause the deposition of pigments.

6. Exfoliative Glaucoma

An outer layer from your eye's lens sometimes peels off and sets in between the angle of the Cornea and Iris. Therefore, it blocks the eye's drainage channels and causes Glaucoma. This type of Glaucoma is known for causing severe eye pressure.

7. Neovascular Glaucoma

Abnormal growth of new blood vessels on the Iris and over the drainage canals causes blockage and high pressure of fluid inside your eyes. Therefore, it harms Optic nerves and causes Glaucoma. This condition occurs due to other health issues such as Diabetes.

8. Traumatic Glaucoma

The main reason for this disease is eye injury that damages the Optic nerves. It may show symptoms in the early stage or comes after many years.

9. Uveitic Glaucoma

Generally, this type of eye disorder happens due to inflammation from different drugs. Irritation near the Iris of the eye canal causes channel blockage and leads to Glaucoma.

The leading cause of this disease is damage to optic nerves. When these optic nerves get blocked, a fluid called aqueous humour can not flow properly. Therefore it causes extra pressure inside your eyes and harms optic nerves, leading to Glaucoma.

However, there are some other causes of Glaucoma, which are:

• Family history of this disease
• Old age
• Having thin corneas
• Certain health conditions include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure etc.

Open-angle Glaucoma does not show any symptoms in its early stage, but the other types can show some noticeable symptoms. These are as follows:

• Headaches
• Eye pressure or pain
• Rainbow-coloured ring around lights
• Blurred vision
• Red eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blind spots
• Tunnel vision

Though this disease hardly shows any symptoms in the first stage, however, the comprehensive risk factors that can mark its presence are:

• Severe Intraocular Pressure
• Having extreme near sight or far sight
• Taking particular eye drops for a long time
• Having eye issues at the age over 40
• Belonging from Asian, Hispanian, or African heritage
• Using long-term steroid medicines, etc.

You should visit an eye specialist if you notice any early signs of Glaucoma, such as blurred vision or eye pain. However, if you do not notice any, you should also go for a routine eye check-up to avoid harmful circumstances. The diagnosis process is as follows:

• An ophthalmologist will check your eye pressure
• The drainage angle of your eyes will be examined thoroughly
• Next, the doctor will check your optic nerves
• The doctor will also check your side vision
• Afterwards, the size of your Optic nerve will be measured
• Lastly, check the thickness of your Cornea

There are several treatments available for treating this disease. These are:

1. Medication

This disease is curable in an early stage with proper medication. Usually, eye drops are enough to lower eye pressure, which further reduces the chance of this disease. Some eye drops reduce the flow of Aqueous Humour. Thus, the eye pressure decreases.

However, medication may not always suit every patient as it has side effects. In addition, they can react by merging with other regular medicines. Therefore, you should consult an eye expert before starting or stopping any medicine for Glaucoma.

2. Surgeries

The last method to treat this disease is surgery which involves 3 effective processes. These are:

• Trabeculectomy: In this process, doctors make a tiny hole in the Sclera and a bleb in the Conjunctiva that remains hidden in your upper eyelid. The fluid comes through the hole and absorbs into the blood vessels around the bleb, thus lowers down eye pressure.
• Glaucoma Drainage Devices: Doctors may implant a fluid collector device in your eyes to collect excess fluid. This device sends fluids to a separate reservoir and lowers your eye pressure. Doctors generally create reservoirs beneath the Conjunctiva where nearby blood vessels absorb the fluid.
• Cataract Surgery: In this type of surgery, doctors operate on your eyes to fix the angle of your Iris and Cornea by removing the eye's original lens. Fixing this angle helps the fluid to come out properly.
• Laser Surgery: There are two main types of laser surgeries, these are:
  • Trabeculoplasty: This treatment is for Open-Angle Glaucoma, where doctors fix the angles of drainage canals, ensuring that fluids come out correctly.
  • Iridotomy: In this treatment, Ophthalmologists make a small hole in your Iris that helps to drain the eye fluid properly.

The preventive measures for Glaucoma are:

• Examine Regularly: If you are under 40, you should examine your eyes every 5 to 10 years. People from 40 to 54 should check their eyes every 2 to 4 years. Further, people from 55 to 64 years should examine every 1 to 3 years. Lastly, if you are above 65, examine your eyes every 1 to 2 years.
• Exercise Carefully: Moderate exercise can reduce eye pressure and decrease the chances of Glaucoma. However, you must consult a doctor beforehand.
• Protect Your Eyes: Use eye protection tools while performing sports or going out in extreme sunlight. This will help you to avoid any accidents and inflammation in your eyes.
• Know About Family Health Issues: Glaucoma can be rooted in family health history; therefore, if you find any such history in your family, be extra cautious with your optical health.
• Do Not Stop Medications: Stopping eye drops is not wise as you may face serious consequences afterwards. Therefore, try to end the course of medicine to prevent Glaucoma.

Therefore, hope you now have a comprehensive idea of what Glaucoma is and how to prevent and treat it properly. The discussion reveals that this disease is not very harmful in its early stage. However, proper diagnosis can reduce further adversity. Hence, you should consult an experienced eye specialist to know more about this disease.