Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi, March 12: Every eighth person, or almost 40 million people, has glaucoma or is at risk of acquiring it, with 11.2 million Indians affected and 1.1 million blind, including children.
Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve, the component of the eye that transmits images to the brain, over time.
It’s frequently caused by problems draining aqueous humour (the clear fluid that bathes the structures of the eye and preserves its optical qualities), which normally enters and departs the space in which it’s held on a regular basis. Increased eye pressure affects the optic nerve, causing the nerve fibres to atrophy as a result of poor drainage (see attached document). As a result, the vision field gradually narrows, and if not treated early enough, it can potentially lead to blindness.
Glaucoma is characterized by damage to the optic nerve, which leads to irreversible blindness, and is connected with a number of risk factors, the most controllable of which is an increase in eye pressure. Glaucoma frequently causes silent vision loss since the patient does not show symptoms until the disease has progressed to a moderate to advanced state.
Early detection and treatment are critical for preventing the condition, which primarily affects adults over the age of 40.
Cause: There may be many reasons for Glaucoma including, high internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure), over age 60, having a family history of glaucoma, having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sickle cell anemia, having had an eye injury or certain types of eye surgery or taking corticosteroid medications, especially eyedrops, for a long period of time.
Treatment:
Medication- Eye drops are typically used to treat glaucoma. Eye drops help to decrease ocular pressure when used on a daily basis. Some people do this by lowering the amount of aqueous fluid produced by the eye. Others assist fluid flow better via the drainage angle, reducing pressure.
Laser surgery- To treat glaucoma, there are two basic forms of laser surgery. They aid in the drainage of aqueous from the eye. These treatments are frequently performed in an outpatient surgical centre.
Screening family members of glaucoma patients is required, as the condition can affect siblings and children of glaucoma patients in up to 10-15% of instances
Notably, World Glaucoma Week (WGW) is celebrated from March 7 to 13. It is a one-of-a-kind programme that raises awareness of glaucoma as the main cause of preventable irreversible blindness around the world.
