Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that causes irreversible vision loss typically due to unusually high pressure in the eye. It is among the top three causes of blindness in India. Unfortunately, people do not notice any change in vision until the condition is in the advanced stages, which is why glaucoma is often referred to as a silent thief of vision. Awareness about this disease helps in early detection and prevention of major damage.

Glaucoma

A patient suspected to have Glaucoma or already diagnosed with the problem, needs to get a number of tests termed Glaucoma Workup. The tests include:

  • Automated Perimetry

  • Pachymetry

  • Optic Disc photography

  • Optical Coherence Tomography

Symptom

Glaucoma being a silent thief of sight, rarely has any symptoms. Very often, patients come to us with complete loss of vision in one eye. Sometimes, in cases of closed-angle glaucoma, patients complain of headaches which are more in the evenings or in the dark. They may also complain of seeing coloured haloes (rainbows) of light when their eye pressure rises. In case of an attack of acute angle closure the patient may complain of severe headache, redness of the eyes, and sudden blurring of vision. This may be associated with nausea and vomiting, and can mimic an abdominal emergency.

Will my spectacle number be gone for lifetime?

Laser vision correction reduces your dependency on spectacles and enables you to remain spectacle free till you become presbyopic.

Will i get my number back after surgery?

Laser vision correction is targeted to achieve emmetropia but it may fluctuate for a minor correction in future for which spectacles are not needed.

Treatment

Following diagnosis, there are several options available to treat Glaucoma

  • Medical management

  • Laser Photocoagulation:Laser Iridotomy with YAG Laser.

  • Surgical management: - Standard Drainage procedures like Trabeculectomy or Advanced Glaucoma Drainage devices/implants

Do i need to put the eye drops for lifetime?

Glaucoma can be managed both medically that is with eye drops and surgically.If your target pressure is achieved with eyedrops you need to put them as per the doctors advice probably for lifetime.

Can i sleep with contacts?

You are considered to be in a higher-than-normal risk category if you have any of the following:
1. High IOP.
2. Age > 40 years.
3. Family history of glaucoma.
4. History of eye injury.
5. History of steroid use, topically / systemically.
6. Are near-sighted (myopia, need minus powered spectacles).