Glaucoma is the second leading cause of preventable blindness in India where nearly 12 million Indians will be affected by 2010 and 16 million by 2020.
Most people with glaucoma are unaware of their disease. Once diagnosed, glaucoma is a lifelong disease as the visual loss in glaucoma cannot be restored. Early detection and control are the keys to preserving vision and the quality of life.
The disease is characterized by typical changes 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. It can be open angle or angle closure glaucoma.
Glaucoma can also occur at birth and in children, though such cases are rare. In these cases the disease is more severe and requires surgery.
Since 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 once significant vision/field has been lost. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential so that treatment to halt/slow progression can be instituted.
What are my risk factors for developing glaucoma?
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If you are above the age of 40 years |
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If you have a blood relative with glaucoma |
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If you have a history of injury to the eyes |
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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
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Frequent change in spectacle power |
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Attacks of headache and eye pain associated with a decrease in vision or redness |
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Decrease in vision |
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A large eye in an infant |
How is it diagnosed?
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Checking glasses alone does not help in detecting glaucoma |
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Checking eye pressure (intraocular pressure) alone may miss detection of glaucoma |
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A person with cataract may have co-existing glaucoma as a cause of low vision |
Only a comprehensive eye examination including eye pressure check, examination of angle of the eye (gonioscopy), examination of the optic nerve and if necessary checking the peripheral vision (visual field or perimetry) can help diagnose this disease.
What are the treatment options available?
Treatment options include
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Medications (eye drops) |
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Laser treatment |
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Surgery |
The required treatment is decided by the treating doctor. All treatment in glaucoma is aimed at halting the disease progression. Glaucoma can be controlled but not cured. Glaucoma patients require periodic examinations and strict adherence to medications as advised. For most patients glaucoma can be controlled and vision can be preserved for the patient’s lifetime. A lifelong follow-up is required.
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