Glaucoma is a condition which makes sufferers experience visual disturbances . According to the UN World Health Organization or WHO , glaucoma is the second largest cause of blindness worldwide after cataract .
The cause of glaucoma is increased pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure), whether as a result of the production of eye fluid overload, or due to obstruction of the drain the liquid. This pressure can damage the nerve fibers of the retina or nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye and the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain as well. Until now, it is unclear why the production of eye fluid can be exaggerated or why the discharge channel can be blocked.
symptoms of glaucoma
The symptoms of glaucoma can be:
types of glaucoma
- Pain in the eye
- Headache
- See the shadow of the circle around the light
- red eyes
- Nausea or vomiting
- The views sketchy
- Vision narrowed to eventually not be able to see the object at all
Two types of glaucoma are caused by pressure in the eye is open-angle glaucoma and closed angle.
Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. This species is also known as chronic glaucoma due to emerging and developing slowly. Closed-angle glaucoma is much rarer and is known as acute glaucoma because it occurs suddenly. Angle-closure glaucoma is an emergency condition because it can cause permanent blindness quickly.
Factors that can trigger inflammation and glaucoma is a severe infection of the eye, underlying diseases such as diabetes, as well as the side effects of steroid medications. In addition, the risk of glaucoma also increases with the age of a person, especially if it is above 40 years.
read also : cataract-eye-disease
Diagnosing glaucoma
Because glaucoma causes optic nerve is compromised, then the diagnosis will focus on that . Eye doctor will examine the patient's eyesight and the inner structure of the eye . A procedure to check the eye pressure will also be conducted . This procedure is called tonometry . The doctor will also do a visual field test to check if the patient has been reduced peripheral vision .
treatment of glaucoma
It's important to see a doctor immediately if you experience a decrease in vision that may have been caused by glaucoma . Eye damage caused by glaucoma can not be cured , but the goal of the treatment of this condition is to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye and prevent widespread damage to the eyes . In general , glaucoma can be treated with eye drops , oral medications , laser therapy , and surgical procedures .
symptoms of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is generally divided into two types of closed-angle glaucoma or acute glaucoma and open-angle glaucoma or chronic glaucoma.
In closed-angle glaucoma, the symptoms develop very rapidly that require medical treatment to reduce pressure in the eye as soon as possible. Symptoms of angle closure glaucoma them are eye pain and severe headaches, vision can be blurry, eye redness, nausea and vomiting, such as seeing a shadow circle on the light, and vision suddenly interrupted in low light conditions.
In open-angle glaucoma, the symptoms versus forth with angle closure glaucoma. Sufferers hardly feel the damage to their eyes because the symptoms develop slowly. The main characteristics of open-angle glaucoma is the decrease in peripheral vision in both eyes slowly, before it ended up being very narrow or tunnel vision.
If glaucoma occurs in infancy or children, glaucoma is called congenital glaucoma or congenital. Symptoms will appear as a baby or child. But sometimes the symptoms are not easily identified. Congenital glaucoma symptoms can include watery eyes and dewy look, eyes are very sensitive to light, the eyes look enlarged due to high pressure in the eye. Crossed eyes can also indicate glaucoma in children.
Causes Glaucoma
Glaucoma occurs when pressure inside the eye increases due to the circulation of eye fluid is disturbed, thus damaging the optic nerve. The cause is clear why this occurs is not known with certainty. Glaucoma can be divided into two, namely open-angle glaucoma and closed angle glaucoma.
Open-angle glaucoma
Glaucoma is caused by clogged drains eye fluid, so that the pressure in the eye increases. Called "open angle" because the eye fluid drainage channel is still open even though some of these channels in the corner of the eye began to narrow.
The condition is also called chronic glaucoma is growing slowly on the sufferer, so that they almost do not feel the symptoms or eye damage occurs.
Closed-angle glaucoma
The opposite of open-angle glaucoma, eye fluid drains blocked because of the angle between the iris and cornea is too narrow. The situation is causing an increase in intraocular pressure suddenly.
Despite the obvious cause of glaucoma is not known, the following are factors thought to play a role in increasing the risk of someone experiencing glaucoma:
Glaucoma diagnosis
- Aged over 40 years.
- Never experienced injuries to the eye or eye surgery.
- Ever diagnosed with high eye pressure or ocular hypertension.
- Others suffer from eye diseases such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, inflammation of the eyes, and disorders of the retina, lens or eye blood vessels.
- Have family members who also suffer from glaucoma.
- Use of corticosteroid drugs in the long term.
- Suffering from diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or an overactive thyroid gland.
- Glaucoma can affect both eyes with different severity levels.
In diagnosing glaucoma, in addition to asking the symptoms that patients feel, the eye doctor will also need information about their medical history. And to confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will perform a number of tests, including:
treatment of Glaucoma
- Tonometry test, which checks for measuring the pressure inside the eye. Before the procedure is done, usually the patient's eyes will shed a local anesthetic.
- Tests perimetry or visual field tests. This examination aims to determine whether the patient has impaired peripheral vision due to glaucoma.
- Gonioscopy test. These checks are aimed at checking the angle between the iris and cornea is the eye fluid drain. The doctor will determine whether the angle between the iris and the cornea is open or closed.
- Ophthalmoscopy test, which checks for the presence of damage to the optic nerve caused by glaucoma. In this examination, the patient's eye will be given special medication dripped so that their pupils dilate. After that the doctor will examine the patient's eye with a device that functions the same as a microscope.
- Pachymetry test, which checks for measuring corneal thickness. If the test results indicate that the thickening of the cornea, it means too high intraocular pressure and glaucoma patients likely to suffer.
Glaucoma should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. If this condition is ignored, the disease will continue to grow and the sufferer may experience blindness.
Eye damage caused by glaucoma can not be cured until fully recovered as normal circumstances. However, the goal of treatment of this condition is to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye and prevent widespread damage to the eyes.
Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, or surgical procedure.
Eye drops
Generally, eye drops are often the first form of treatment for open-angle glaucoma suggested by the doctor. This is useful launched drops eye fluid drainage and reduce output.
Several types of eye drops for glaucoma are:
For maximum effect, ophthalmic drugs above can be combined to reduce the level of pressure inside the eye.
- Alpha inhibitor drugs, such as apraclonidine and brimonidine.
- Beta blocker drugs, such as timolol and levobunolol.
- Analoge prostaglandin drugs, such as travoprost and bimatoprost.
- Drugs inhibiting carbonic anydrase, such as dorzolamide and brinzolamide.
Some of the potential side effects of glaucoma eye drops are:
It's important for you not to use eye drops without first asking your doctor for fear of some kind of drops have side effects that can affect the performance of the lungs or heart.
- Irritation of the eyes
- Red eye
- Eyes feel dry and / or itchy
- Stinging sensation in the eye
Glaucoma drugs taken
To complete the performance drops or if the drops proved to be ineffective, the doctor will prescribe glaucoma medications in pill form. Drugs taken is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as dorzolamide and brinzolamide.
Some of the side effects of pills for glaucoma are:
laser treatment
- Frequent urination
- Problems in the memory
- Stomach ache
- Tingling in the hands and feet
- Depression
- Kidney stones
Laser treatment can be applied to treat open-angle glaucoma and closed. In open-angle glaucoma, laser treatment can smooth the flow of eye fluid drainage, whereas closed-angle glaucoma, this procedure is able to eliminate the blockage of fluid. After the laser procedure, eye drops are usually still need to be used.
operating procedures
Just as laser treatment, surgical procedures in glaucoma do if medicines are no longer able to reduce the pressure inside the eye. Here are the types of glaucoma surgery if sorted by general application:
Trabeculectomy, which is a type of glaucoma is the most common operation. This operation aims to facilitate the circulation of eye fluid by removing a portion of the trabecular meshwork, which is the network where the eye fluid out.
Aqueous shunt implant, which is a surgical procedure aimed at improving the performance of eye fluid drainage by installing a small device resembling a hose on the eye.
0 Response to "Recognize glaucoma and how to cope"
Post a Comment