Introduction
People affected by glaucoma will have optic nerve damage caused due to increased fluid buildup in the eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in people over the age of 60 years. But blindness caused due to this condition can be prevented with proper early treatment.
What Is Meant by Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition that causes optic nerve damage (which sends image signals to the brain), leading to vision loss due to increased eye pressure. The pressure exerted over the optic nerve by the fluid in the eye is called intraocular pressure (IOP). It is usually seen in people over the age of 60 years. This condition is caused due to increased fluid pressure in the eye and gets worse if not treated and can result in complete blindness or vision loss.
Glaucoma is an age-related condition that usually affects people of older age. It is the second most common cause of blindness after cataracts.
What Are the Different Types of Glaucoma?
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Open-Angle Glaucoma:
This form is the standard type that affects 90 percent of American people with glaucoma. This condition leads to resistance buildup in the drainage canal of the eyes, but the canal tends to function correctly. Over the years, the pressure due to this fluid builds up, causing damage to the optic nerve. Many do not show symptoms, so the disease may be left unnoticed.
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Closed-Angle Glaucoma:
It is called angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma. This occurs very rarely and has a sudden onset. The cause of this condition is a narrow angle between the iris and cornea. This condition causes the pupil to dilate, blocks the eye canal drainage, and prevents the fluid from leaving the canal, resulting in increased eye pressure. This condition causes symptoms such as eye pressure and headache and requires immediate care.
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Normal-Tension Glaucoma:
This type occurs even when the eye pressure is normal. Most doctors need to be more clear about the cause of this condition.
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Congenital Glaucoma:
Congenital glaucoma is characterized by improper eye drainage canal development at birth. In some cases, symptoms of glaucoma are noticed during childhood.
What Are the Symptoms and Risk Factors of Glaucoma?
People affected by open-angle glaucoma do not display any signs or symptoms. In the case of glaucoma, the symptoms are seen only during the later stage of the disease. The main symptom of this condition is loss of side vision.
Some common symptoms are
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Appearance of holes around light.
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Deterioration of the vision.
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Redness of the eyes.
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Eye which appears hazy.
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Eye pain.
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Headache.
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Nausea and vomiting.
Glaucoma usually affects people older than 40, but it can also be seen in infants and young adults. Some of the risk factors associated with glaucoma are,
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People of older age.
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Family history of glaucoma.
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People who are nearsighted or farsighted.
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Poor vision.
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Affected with diabetes.
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Intake of any steroid medication.
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Medication for bladder control or seizure.
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Injured eye or eyes.
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Thin cornea than usual.
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Increased blood pressure, heart condition, or sickle cell anemia.
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Increased eye pressure.
What Is the Cause of Glaucoma?
There can be various causes of glaucoma, but a common cause of this condition is intraocular pressure. The eye contains an aqueous humor fluid that helps nourish the eye. This fluid is present in the pupil in the front portion of the eye. In a healthy and normal eye, this fluid gets drained through a canal between the iris and cornea.
In the case of glaucoma, the resistance of the canal and the fluid is not drained through the drainage canal. This causes an increase in the pressure of the eye due to fluid buildup. As this pressure increases, it damages the optic nerve and causes vision problems.
How Is the Glaucoma Condition Diagnosed?
The test conducted to diagnose glaucoma is painless. The doctors may use eye drops to widen the eyes, which helps examine pupils. The optic nerve can be checked for glaucoma, where photographs are taken to compare the changes noticed in the next visit.
Some Tests Are
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A tonometry test is performed to check the pressure of the eyes.
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A visual field test is performed to rule out peripheral loss of vision.
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A gonioscopy test determines the angle where the iris and cornea meet.
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Optic coherence tomography is done to determine any changes in the optic nerve that may indicate glaucoma.
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Slit lamp is used to examine the inner side of the eyes.
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To check loss of vision, a vision acuity test is performed.
How Is Glaucoma Treated in Elder Patients?
Many people are affected by glaucoma and are not diagnosed at the right time. Prolonged undiagnosed and untreated glaucoma can result in vision loss which cannot be cured. There is no management method by which the loss of vision can be restored. Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma can help to prevent vision loss.
Some Treatment Options to Treat Glaucoma in Elders Are
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Medication:
When the glaucoma condition is diagnosed early in old aged people, it can be managed with the help of eye drops and medications. These medication helps to reduce eye pressure and fluid retention or reduce fluid production to keep the retina and optic nerve intact. This reduces the pressure exerted over the optic never, which can cause vision loss. Usually, the medications prescribed do not cause any side effects, but if the patient experiences headache or eye irritation, they should consult a doctor.
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Laser Trabeculoplasty:
When only medication cannot help manage the condition, most doctors recommend laser treatment. In this laser treatment, the excess fluid is eliminated and increases the fluid-draining properties of the affected eye. This laser treatment seems effective when included with other modes of treatment.
During the laser treatment, a beam of light is flashed over the lens, which reflects over the surrounding surface of the eye. This causes stretching of the drainage hole, allowing the eye fluid to get drained.
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Conventional Surgery:
If the laser treatment and medication do not help with fluid drainage, then new holes are created in the meshwork. After numbing the site, a small portion of the tissue is removed, and a new drainage hole is created. This treatment method shows positive results in 75 percent of the affected people. This is the most recommended method for treating glaucoma in the elderly.
Glaucoma is not entirely curable, but treatment can help to manage symptoms and prevent the worsening of the disease.
Conclusion
Glaucoma is usually caused due to increased fluid pressure in the eye, which most commonly affects older people. This condition needs to be diagnosed and treated earlier; if not, it can result in vision loss or blindness. Treatment cannot cure the condition or restore lost vision, but it can help prevent its worsening.
