Health & Care Information Learn all about major sign and symptoms of glaucoma!
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a prevalent, sight threatening disease in which the pressure of the fluid in the eye becomes so increased that, unless promptly and properly treated, the internal eye structures are permanently damaged.Normally there is a constant production of clear fluid within the front part of the eye, which is drained away as fast as it is produced. In glaucoma interference with the drainage of this fluid develops increased pressure in the eye.About 2 percent of the population above forty years of age are candidates for glaucoma. If these cases are not handled properly, about one million persons now living in this age group will become blind because of glaucoma. With early detection and proper care, however, vision can be preserved in 80 to 85 percent of all cases.
Glaucoma may develop insidiously without any demonstrable cause, or it may follow some other disease of the eye. The acute type may develop very rapidly in a period of a few hours.Even when there is no evidence of eye disease, it is advisable to have the eyes examined at least every two years. The examination should include a measurement of the pressure within the eye.If there is question regarding the meaning of any symptoms relating to the eyes, consult a physician who specializes in diseases of the eye and carefully follow his directions.Treatment of a case of glaucoma is of two types .First one is medication (using appropriate eye drops and medicines) and second one is surgical intervention.In many cases, medical treatment alone will prevent progression of the disease and thus save the patient’s vision.
Sign and symptoms of Glaucoma
It is better for a person who is above forty to arrange for a routine eye examination every two years than to wait for the signs of glaucoma to develop before he consults an eye specialist.The prospect of favorable treatment is best in cases detected early.Some major sign and symptoms of glaucoma include
- Redness of the eye, particularly in that part of the “white of the eye” which surrounds the cornea
- A gradual decline in the acuity of vision (the person feels that he needs a change of glasses)
- pain in the eye which becomes throbbing in nature
- The seeing of “halos” around lights
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Tendency for the eyes to water
- Enlargement of the pupil
- Steamy appearance of the cornea
- Sudden onset of visual disturbance
- Blurred vision
- Headache
Glaucoma is one of the most common cause of visual disturbance and blindness in the United States. Glaucoma may damage your vision so gradually so, you can not notice any loss of vision until the disease becomes progressive and enters into advance stage.The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma which has no prominent signs or symptoms except gradual vision loss.Early diagnosis and treatment can decrease the risk of optic nerve damage. It’s important to get your eyes examined regularly because early detection of glaucoma is very important for successful treatment o glaucoma.
