GLAUCOMA

A glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. Although the most common forms primarily affect the middle-aged and the elderly, glaucoma can affect people of all ages. “If left untreated glaucoma can result in irreversible blindness.” Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve connects our eye to the brain so that the brain receives and perceives the images. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision.

The glaucoma department at Ahalia foundation eye hospital is well equipped with the latest technologies to establish the clinical diagnosis of glaucoma. Our major doctors in Glaucoma are Dr. Sajeev Cherian Jacob (MBBS, MS Ophthal, Specialisation in Glaucoma, Paediatric Squint) Dr. Blessy MBBS, MS.

Anybody can have glaucoma, but certain groups are prone to develop glaucoma, these are :

• The Person with family history of glaucoma
• High eye pressure
• High Myopia
• High Hypermetropia
• Hypertension
• Migraine
• Steroid users
• Diabetes

Clear liquid called aqueous humor circulates inside the front portion of the eye. To maintain a healthy level of pressure within the eye, a small amount of this fluid is produced constantly while an equal amount flows out of the eye through a microscopic drainage system. (This liquid is not part of the tears on the outer surface of the eye.) Because the eye is a closed structure, if the drainage area for the aqueous humor – called the drainage angle – is blocked, the excess fluid cannot flow out of the eye. Fluid pressure within the eye increases pushing against the optic nerve and causing damage.

At first, there are no symptoms. Vision stays normal till the advanced stage. First, the patient loses his side vision, if remain untreated complete vision is lost and the damage is irreversible even after the treatment. The symptom of angle-closure Glaucoma includes severe pain and nausea, as well as redness of the eye and blurred vision. If you have these symptoms, you need to seek treatment immediately as this is a medical emergency.

Glaucoma treatment may include prescription eye drops, laser, or microsurgery. The treatment of choice varies with the type of glaucoma. Eye drops for glaucoma. These either reduce the formation of fluid in the front of the eye or increase its outflow. Thereby reducing the pressure inside the eye Laser surgery for glaucoma.

Laser surgery for Glaucoma slightly increases the outflow of the fluid from the eye in open-angle glaucoma or eliminates fluid blockage in angle-closure glaucoma. Microsurgery for glaucoma. In an operation called a trabeculectomy, a new channel is created to drain the fluid, thereby reducing intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma.