What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. Although the most common forms primarily affect the middle-aged and the elderly, Glaucoma can affect people of all ages. “If left untreated Glaucoma can result in irreversible blindness.”
Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve connects our eye to the brain, so that the brain receives and perceives the images. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision

What Causes Glaucoma?

Our eyes constantly produce a clear fluid called aqueous humor (Fig 1 & Fig 2), which bathes and nourishes different regions of the eye (this is different from tears). Normally the fluid drains out of the eye through a ‘drainage canal’ located in the ‘angle’ of the eye (Fig 2), the junction between the cornea and the iris. In persons with glaucoma, the fluid does not drain out as freely as it should, thus increasing the pressure inside the eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP).

The optic nerve carries all sensations from the retina to the brain. Raised IOP damages the optic disc (that part of the optic nerve that is inside the eye is called the optic disc).

Glaucoma can sometimes occur with a statistically “normal” IOP. Hence the vulnerability of the optic disc is another factor that needs to be considered. Accordingly, the diagnosis of glaucoma requires more than just the mere measurement of intraocular pressure.

Who are at risk for developing glaucoma?

Anybody can have glaucoma, but there are certain groups who are prone to develop glaucoma, these are

• Person with family history of glaucoma
• High eye pressure
• High Myopia
• High Hypermetropia
• Hypertension
• Migraine
• Steroid users
• Diabetes

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

• Glaucoma treatment may include prescription eye drops, laser, or microsurgery. the treatment of choice varies with the type of glaucoma.
• Eye drops for glaucoma. These either reduce the formation of fluid in the front of the eye or increase its outflow. Thereby reducing the pressure inside the eye Laser surgery for glaucoma.
• Laser surgery for Glaucoma slightly increases the outflow of the fluid from the eye in open-angle Glaucoma or eliminates fluid blockage in angle-closure glaucoma.
• Microsurgery for glaucoma. In an operation called a trabeculectomy, a new channel is created to drain the fluid, thereby reducing intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma.

Glaucoma Treatment

• Medical management
• YAG Laser iridotomy
• Trabeculectomy
• Trabeculectomy with Trabeculotomy for paediatric glaucoma
• Valve implantation
• Cyclo-cryo procedure for refractive glaucoma