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What is Glaucoma? |
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It is a group of eye diseases
usually characterized by
increased pressure within the
eye and resulting loss of
vision. Although the vision loss
caused by glaucoma is
irreversible, medication or
surgery can usually control the
pressure within the eye and slow
or halt the progression of the
disease. If glaucoma is
diagnosed in its early stages,
it can be treated effectively,
and vision can usually be
preserved. |
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What are the various types of
glaucoma? |
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The are 2 major types
1. Acute glaucoma (also
known as angle closure
glaucoma)
2. Chronic glaucoma (
open angle glaucoma) |
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Normally the fluid inside the
eye (aqueous humor) is produced
inside the eye by the ciliary
body and flows out into the
veins through trabecular
meshwork, a sieve-like structure
in the angle between the cornea
(the transparent layer of tissue
at the front of the eye) and the
iris (the colored part of the
eye). Any abnormality in the
outflow of this aqueous humor
results in its accumulation
inside the eye and hence
increased pressure. |
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What is acute glaucoma? |
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Acute glaucoma is a medical
emergency that develops when
pressure inside the eye
increases rapidly. Acute
glaucoma can develop at any age,
and must be treated promptly to
prevent permanent vision loss. |
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What are the symptoms of acute
glaucoma? |
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Patient complains of eye pain,
severe headache, nausea,
sometimes vomiting also
sensitivity to light, redness of
the eyes, blurred vision, and
seeing rainbow-like halos around
lights. |
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What is the treatment of acute
glaucoma? |
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The pressure inside the eye must
be lowered within 24 hours to
prevent severe vision loss.
Medications to decrease the
production of aqueous humor and
to constrict the pupil are used
to treat acute glaucoma. Laser
surgery is another common
treatment.. |
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How can I know if I’m
predisposed to have acute
glaucoma? |
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A test called gonioscopy can be
performed as part of an eye exam
can predict a person’s chance of
having an acute attack. |
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What is Open angle glaucoma? |
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It is the most commonest type of
glaucoma. In this disease the
pressure within the eye rises
gradually, and due to increased
pressure on the nerve of the eye
there is vision loss which
progresses over a period of
years. |
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Am I at risk to develop
glaucoma? |
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If you have a family history of
glaucoma (specially in
siblings), suffer from diabe-tes,
are above 40 yrs of age, then
you are at risk to develop
glaucoma and you should get your
eyes examined routinely by an
eye specialist. The incidence of
glaucoma increases with age, is
more in males and in blacks.
Near-sightedness has also been
associated with open angle
glaucoma. |
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What are the symptoms of Open
angle glaucoma? |
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In its early stages, glaucoma is
symptom-less. The gradual
increase of pressure in-side the
eye does not cause any pain or
discomfort. As the disease
progresses, however, vision
begins to deteriorate. The
deterioration usually begins
with the peripheral vision |
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TUBULAR VISION: |
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Loss of
sight at the outer edges of the
visual field. Patients may
usually notice this while
driving when they are unable to
see an overtaking vehicle till
it is beside or ahead of them.
If glaucoma is left untreated,
the field of vision continues to
shrink until a tubular vision is
left ( as if a person is seeing
through a long tube). Gradually
if left untreated then this tube
gets smaller and smaller till at
last the person becomes blind. |
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Can this blindness be cured? |
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In this case prevention is the
only cure. The vision loss due
to chronic glaucoma is
irreversible. It is important to
detect glaucoma before
significant vision loss occurs
and this can be done by some
routine tests done by an
ophthalmologist. |
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