Glaucoma
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition whereby there is damage to the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good peripheral vision. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye (intraocular pressure). Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs and the damage caused by glaucoma can’t be reversed. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is at an advanced stage. Therefore, regular visits to your ophthalmologist are important so a diagnosis can be made in its early stages and treated appropriately.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
The signs and symptoms vary depending on the type and stage of which condition you may have:
Open-angle glaucoma
- Patchy blind spots in your side (peripheral) or central vision in one or both eyes
- Tunnel vision in the advanced stages
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
- Severe headache
- Eye pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Halos around lights
- Eye redness
Treatment options for Glaucoma
Glaucoma is treated by lowering your eye pressure. Depending on your situation, your options may include prescription eyedrops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery. Once assessed your ophthalmologist will tailor one or a combination of any of these depending on your type and severity.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency. If you’re diagnosed with this condition, you’ll need urgent treatment to reduce the pressure in your eye. This generally will require both medication and laser or other surgical procedures in order allow fluid (aqueous humor) to flow through your eye and relieving eye pressure.
