Glaucoma is a disease of the eye that causes damage to your optic nerve and gets worse over time, leading to a gradual loss of vision. The optic nerve transmits images from the eye to the brain for interpretation.
Glaucoma is often associated with a buildup of pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure), without treatment glaucoma can cause total permanent blindness within a few years.
WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM?
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world.
The most common form, open-angle glaucoma, accounts for 19% of all blindness among African Americans.
The global prevalence of glaucoma for population aged 40-80 years is 3.54%. The prevalence of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma is highest in Africa.
WHAT CAUSES GLAUCOMA?
The cause of glaucoma generally is a failure of the eye to maintain an appropriate balance between the amount of internal (intraocular) fluid produced and the amount that drains away. When the ability of the internal eye structures to regulate, intraocular pressure is affected, eye pressure can rise to dangerously high levels causing glaucoma. Normal eye pressure is 10mmHg - 21mmHg.
Other causes of secondary glaucoma include:
- Eye injury / trauma
- Inflammation of the eye / eye infection
- Complications from eye surgery
- Abnormal blood vessel formation from diabetes
- Use of steroid-containing medications (pills, eyedrops, sprays)
There are four main types of glaucoma:
CHRONIC Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG): This is the most common type of glaucoma. It develops gradually without early signs for a long time.
ACUTE Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma (PACG): Results in severe eye pain accompanied by nausea, blurred vision, rainbows around lights, and a red eye. It is an ocular emergency.
Secondary Glaucoma: This type occurs as a result of another disease or problem within the eye such as: inflammation, trauma, previous surgery, diabetes, tumor, and certain medications.
Congenital Glaucoma: This is a rare type of glaucoma that is generally seen in infants. In most cases, surgery is required.
WHO IS AT RISK FOR GLAUCOMA?
You are at an increased risk if you:
1. Are over the age of 40
2. An African
3. Have a family history of glaucoma
4. Have poor vision (high myopia)
5. Have medical conditions like diabetes, migraine
6. Take certain steroid medication, such as prednisone for a prolonged period of time.
7. Have had trauma to the eye or eyes (eye injury or surgery)
8. Use of eye dilation drops
What are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is termed sneak thief of sight because it often does not have noticeable symptoms until a significant amount of vision has already been lost.
If you have any of the following symptoms, seek medicare care;
- Seeing halos around light
- Vision loss
- Red eyes/ eye pain
- Increased IOP >20mmhg
- Eye (cornea) that looks hazy (particularly in infants)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Narrowing of vision (tunnel vision)
Glaucoma can be detected by regular eye screening/ Comprehensive eye examination.
HOW CAN GLAUCOMA BE PREVENTED?
Glaucoma cannot be prevented, but when diagnosed and managed early, the disease can be controlled.
HOW CAN GLAUCOMA BE MANAGED?
It should be noted that glaucoma cannot be treated; it can only be managed as vision lost in the glaucoma cannot be recovered. The following management can help preserve the vision that's left;
- Regular eye checkup
- Medical therapy (Eye drops for glaucoma)
- Surgery (Laser / microsurgery for glaucoma)
Source: NNPC ( Warri Medical Zone)
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