Glaucoma is a condition in which the fluid pressure within the eye rises. It can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss if not treated. Glaucoma is a fairly common condition. It is most likely to strike white people over 60 years of age and black and Hispanic people over 40 years.
The most common type, open-angle glaucoma, manifests slowly and is difficult to detect. An ophthalmologist, on the other hand, may identify changes during an eye exam. Glaucoma has no cure, but treatment can slow or stop its progression.
This article will discuss the causes of glaucoma and the signs and symptoms so that you can be better prepared.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition in which there is an increase in intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve. The aqueous humor is a clear fluid found in the front of the eye. This fluid both nourishes and shapes the eyes. This fluid gets constantly produced by your eyes and gets drained away via a drainage system.
Glaucoma causes the fluid in the eye to drain too slowly. When this occurs, fluid accumulates, and the pressure inside the eye rises. If this pressure does not get managed, it can damage the optic nerve and other parts of the eye, resulting in vision loss. Glaucoma typically affects both eyes, though one eye may be affected more severely than the other. If detected early, you may be able to avoid further vision loss.
What Are First Signs Of Glaucoma?
There are two common types of glaucoma. You will find primary open-angle glaucoma to be the most common type of glaucoma. Except for gradual vision loss, it has no signs or symptoms. As a result, it’s critical to have yearly comprehensive eye exams so your ophthalmologist, or eye specialist, can track any changes in your vision.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma, also known as narrow-angle glaucoma, is a life-threatening condition. Consult your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
- severe ocular pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- eye redness
- sudden vision disturbances
- observing colored rings surrounding lights
- unexpected blurred vision
Read more: What Is Glaucoma? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Surgery & Prevention
What Are Causes of Glaucoma?
Glaucoma can occur without a known cause. But it can get influenced by a variety of factors. Intraocular eye pressure is the most important one. Your eyes produce a fluid known as aqueous humor, which feeds them. This liquid travels to the front of the eye via the pupil. The solution leaves the eye through a drainage canal located between the iris and cornea in a healthy optic.
The drainage canals become clogged with microscopic deposits as a result of glaucoma. Because the fluid has nowhere to go, it accumulates in the eye. This extra fluid puts strain on the eyes. This increased eye pressure can eventually damage the optic nerve, resulting in glaucoma.
Glaucoma causes depend on the type of glaucoma.
- What causes open-angle glaucoma?
Fluid moves too slowly through the spongy tissue in the opening where the iris and cornea meet in people with open-angle glaucoma. It causes fluid to accumulate in your eye, increasing the pressure inside your eye.
When the pressure inside your eye becomes too high, experts believe it can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. Lowering eye pressure has been shown in studies to help prevent vision loss from glaucoma, which is why it is critical to control the pressure inside your eyes.
- What causes normal-tension glaucoma?
Your optic nerve can be damaged and cause vision loss even if you do not have high eye pressure. It gets referred to as normal-tension or low-tension glaucoma.
Experts are unsure why this occurs, but it could be because your optic nerve is more sensitive than most people’s. Even if the pressure in your eye is normal in this case, lowering it can help to slow or prevent further damage to your eyes.
- What causes angle-closure glaucoma?
The outer edge of the iris blocks the opening where the iris and cornea meet in angle-closure glaucoma. When this happens, the fluid in your eye cannot drain at all. It is a medical situation that requires immediate attention.
Angle-closure glaucoma can cause the following unexpected symptoms:
- Extensive eye pain
- Stomach ache (nausea)
- The appearance of a red eye
- Hazy vision
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or an emergency room right away.
- What causes congenital glaucoma?
Congenital glaucoma occurs when a baby is born with an eye problem that causes fluid to drain more slowly than usual. The good news is that if a child with congenital glaucoma receives surgery soon after being diagnosed, they have a good chance of developing healthy vision.
Conclusion
While there is no cure for glaucoma, treatments can control eye pressure and prevent vision loss. Eye exams can detect the disease early and help you keep your sight. If you are at high risk for glaucoma, ask your eye doctor how frequently you should get screened. If you have glaucoma, you must use daily eye drops as directed. Inquire with your healthcare provider or your ophthalmologist about laser treatments and surgery options as well. You can prevent glaucoma from worsening and causing irreversible vision loss or blindness if you take proper care of it.
Remember only to reach out to the most advanced eye-care hospitals and clinics for your glaucoma problem if you have other health issues or even otherwise. The experts at Dada Laser Eye Institute will guide you through the entire process. The doctors explain the risks involved and share their knowledge about glaucoma before and after your treatment. You can get in touch with the experts and get proper consultation by giving us a call at (+91) 992 299 5549 or visit our website.