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What Is Glaucoma? Understanding the “Silent Thief of Sight”
Introduction
Glaucoma, also known as the “silent thief of sight,” is a set of progressive eye illnesses that damage the optic nerve, resulting in visual loss. This set of eye illnesses can induce irreversible vision loss without any obvious symptoms in the early stages. It is one of the main causes of blindness globally, but many people are unaware of their condition until considerable damage has occurred.
In this blog, we will discuss what glaucoma is, its causes, who’s at risk, and how best you can preserve the eyesight from further deterioration. Whether you are looking out for yourself or a loved one, education on glaucoma is the first step toward the road of protecting any eye.
Table of Contents
- What Is Glaucoma?
- Types of Glaucoma
- Causes and Risk Factors
- Common Symptoms
- How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed and Treatment Options
- How to Prevent Vision Loss from Glaucoma
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a collection of eye diseases that harm the optic nerve, the eye component responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain. This damage is often related to abnormally high pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure), but glaucoma may occasionally develop when eye pressure is normal.
Untreated glaucoma will cause permanent loss of vision and even blindness. Because it advances slowly and may be painless, routine eye exams with an Eye doctor in Kochi is key to its early identification.
Types of Glaucoma
There are several types of glaucoma, but the most common include:
- Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: The most prevalent type, where eye pressure builds up slowly due to poor drainage.
- Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A sudden rise in eye pressure caused by a blocked drainage angle. This is a medical emergency.
- Normal-Tension Glaucoma: Optic nerve damage occurs even when intraocular pressure is within the normal range.
- Secondary Glaucoma: Caused by another condition such as an eye injury, inflammation, or tumor.
- Congenital Glaucoma: A rare form present at birth due to abnormal eye development.
Expert Glaucoma treatment in Kochi is available to help manage all these types effectively.
Causes and Risk Factors
The exact cause of glaucoma is not always known, but several risk factors increase the chances of developing it:
- Age (especially over 60)
- Family history of glaucoma
- High intraocular pressure
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Long-term use of corticosteroid medications
- Eye injuries
Common Symptoms
Glaucoma can sometimes show with minor symptoms that are easily neglected, therefore routine eye exams are essential for early detection. However, certain varieties of glaucoma cause more severe symptoms, such as
- eye pain or pressure
- Headaches
- reduced vision
- blurred vision, nausea
- Vomiting
- red eyes.
How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed and treatment options
Glaucoma can be diagnosed with a comprehensive eye exam, which includes
- tonometry test to measure eye pressure
- a dilated eye exam to examine the optic nerve
- a visual field test to check peripheral vision.
Although there is no cure for glaucoma, treatment can help lower eye pressure and prevent further vision loss.Advanced Eye Pressure Management in Kochi is available to help protect your vision and manage glaucoma effectively. Treatments typically include
- eye drops
- Medication
- laser surgery
- traditional surgery
Eye drops either reduce the volume of fluid that the eye secretes or enhance its outflow, with oral medications as an alternative if eye drops are not enough. Laser surgery creates a new fluid channel for drainage, with conventional surgery as a last resort when other treatments do not work. If you suspect any problem with glaucoma, please consult an eye specialist for a complete examination. Glaucoma and its loss of vision can only be avoided through early diagnosis and cure.
How to Prevent Vision Loss from Glaucoma
- Get regular comprehensive eye exams, especially if you’re at higher risk.
- Know your family history of eye diseases.
- Take prescribed medications as directed.
- Protect your eyes from injury.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise, blood pressure control).
Conclusion
Glaucoma often shows no signs, but its impact can be serious. The best way to keep your eyesight safe is to stay knowledgeable, get checked early, and treat it promptly. Don’t wait until you notice problems, by then, it might be too late. Regular eye exams are your best chance to catch this sneaky condition before it causes permanent damage. For those at risk, the Best Glaucoma Treatment in Kochi offers advanced care to protect your vision.
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