GLAUCOMA EYE LEADING CAUSE

GLAUCOMA -

THE SILENT THIEF

 Most people with glaucoma are unaware of this life-long disease. Early detection and control ae the keys to preserving vision, as loss of eyesight due to the disease can never be regained, says Dr L Vijaya...

                   Glaucoma is the second leading cause of proventable blindness in India where nearly 12 million Indians are estimated to be 2010 and 16 million by 2020.

            Most people with glaucoma are unaware of the disease. Early detection and control are the keys to preserving vision as visual loss suffered due to the disease cannot be regained.

             The disease is characterised by changed in the optic nerve (the nerve that connects the eye to the brain) with associated visual field defects (the area seen by the eye). Left untreated, it leads to progressive loss of vision and may eventually result in blindness. The two types of glaucoma are open angle or closure angle glaucoma.

             The disease can also occur in children, though such cases are rare. In these cases, the disease is more severe and often requires surgery.

            As the outer portion of the visual field is the first to be affected, and most types of glaucoma are asymptomatic, the disease is often diagnosed only after significant vision as been lost. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential so as tio ensure that treatment to halt/slow progression can be instituted.

What are my risk factors for the disease ?

• if you are above the age of 40 years
• if you have a blood relative with glaucoma
• if you have a history of unjury to the eyes
• if you are using steroid
• if you are using steroid medication for a long duration

What are its symptoms?
Glaucoma, usually, has no symptoms. More than 90% of glaucoma cases in the country remain undiagnosed. A few warning signs are

• Frequent change in spectacle power
• Attacks of headache and eye pain associated with a decrease in vision or redness
• Difficulty in seeing objects on the side
• decrease in vision
• A large eye in an infant

How is it diagnosed?

• Merely checking the glasses does not help in the detection of this disease
• Also, merely checking the pressure (intraocular pressure) of the eye may result in the failure of detection
• People suffering from cataract may have co-existing glaucome
• Only a comprehensive eye examination including eye pressure check, examination of angle of the eye pressure check, examination of angle of the eye (gonioscopy),examination of the optic nerve and if necessary, checking of the peripheral vision(visual field or perimetry) can help diagnose this disease

What are the treatment options available?
Treatment option include

• Medications (eye drops)
• Laser treatment
• Surgery

         The required treatment has to be decided by the treating doctor. All treatment in glaucoma is aimed at halting the disease progression. Glaucoma can be controlled but not cured. Patients require periodic examinations, and strict adherence to medications. In most patients, glaucoma can be controlled and vision can be preserved for the patient's lifetime. However, a lifelong follow-up is required.
The writer is 
Director,
Glaucoma Services,
Sankara Nethralaya