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Glaucoma is an eye disease that can result in damage to the optic nerves. When a person suffers from glaucoma, eye pressure causes damage to the sensitive nerve fibers of the optic nerve. When many of these nerves are damaged, the field of vision of the individual begins to develop blind spots which can be irreversible.
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Usually, much damage occurs to the optic nerve before people realise they have blind spots and total blindness can if the optic nerve is completely destroyed. Since glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world, early detection and treatment is critical to avoid damage to the optic nerve and blindness from glaucoma.
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Although what actually causes the optic nerve damage from glaucoma isn't exactly known, it is known that is has to do with lowered blood flow and/or mechanical compression to the optic nerve. People can develop glaucoma when they have eye pressure that is high, and also when their eye pressure is within the normal range.
The most common type of glaucoma is called Chronic open-angle glaucoma. This means the open drainage angle of the eye can be blocked, causing eye pressure to consistently increase. This type of glaucoma is hard to discover, because the vision loss is so slow and painless, it is not detected until damage has already occurred to the optic nerve.
Angle-closure glaucoma- This occurs when the eye drainage angle narrows and is blocked up totally. A very serious amount of eye pressure might occur if the iris has closed off the drainage angle. Symptoms of this disorder are blurry vision, headache, and haloes around lights, vomiting, nausea, and strong eye pain. If it is not treated quickly, blindness can result. People with certain eye conditions and people with Asian and African ancestry are more likely to develop this form of glaucoma.
Some forms of glaucoma aren't characterized by high eye pressure. In low or normal tension glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged with field of vision loss, although normal eye pressure is maintained. Eyes that have this condition are a lot more susceptible to damage to the optic nerve if any amount of intraocular pressure increases, as compared to other eyes.
Exfoliation syndrome- This is a common type of open-angle glaucoma that happens when there is an abnormal buildup of whitish material on the lens, and the angle of drainage of the eye. This substance and pigment from the iris can cause the drainage system to become clogged, causing an increase in eye pressure. Laser treatment works well for this type of glaucoma.
Pigmentary glaucoma is characterized by bowing backwards of the iris, resulting in contact with the supports that keep the lens in the right place. This causes the cells lining the iris back to become disrupted and makes pigment particles become released into the eye drainage system, growing the pressure in the eyes. Usually, this form of glaucoma responds well to laser treatment.
Treatment for glaucoma is dependent on the severity and type of each different case. Glaucoma cannot be completely cured, but can be controlled with eye drops, laser procedures, pills, and certain surgical operations that can prevent the disease from progressing further. No matter what the type of glaucoma, regular eye exams are extremely important to detect any vision loss or progression of the disease. Treatment is often altered over time so that your target eye pressure can be lowered.
Usually, glaucoma is treated with eye drops that are used many times every day, and sometimes in conjunction with pills. They are used to change the eye fluid circulation, or by increasing the drainage flow leaving the drain angle. Your doctors will need to know about all of the medications you take as some glaucoma medications have side effects.
Laser surgery may also an appropriate treatment for some sufferers of glaucoma. To increase the eye drain angle function, and to help control the pressure of the eyes when treating open angle glaucoma, Trabeculoplasty is a laser treatment that is often used. Another laser treatment makes tiny holes in the iris to enhance eye fluid flow to the drain angle when treating narrow angle glaucoma.
If operative surgery is required to treat glaucoma, a microscope and special instruments will be used to make a new bypass channel for drainage of the eye fluid. This aids in the lowering of eye pressure. This will only be done if your ophthalmologist thinks that the benefits of this type of operation outweigh any risks, or potential damage to the optic nerve.
Any information, advice, recommendations, statements or otherwise contained herein, or in any other communication whether oral or in writing, is not intended to replace or to be a substitute for medical advice trained by a trained physician or healthcare practitioner.
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