Symptoms To Risk Factors: All You Need To Know About Glaucoma

Glaucoma: It is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, gradually leading to vision loss if left untreated. It is the second-leading cause of blindness worldwide and the leading cause of irreversible blindness. It's often referred to as the silent thief of sight due to its slow progression over time. (Image source: getty images)

Risk Factors: Elevated intraocular pressure, advancing age, family history, refractive errors, and certain systemic diseases like diabetes and hypertension are identified as risk factors for developing glaucoma. (Image source: getty images)

Classification of Glaucoma: Glaucoma in adults is classified into open-angle and closed-angle, further divided into primary and secondary forms. Primary glaucoma lacks an obvious cause, while secondary glaucoma may be triggered by factors like ocular trauma or steroid medication usage. (Image source: getty images)

Symptoms: Open-angle glaucoma usually presents with no symptoms early in the course of the disease. However, it may gradually progress to affect vision. Acute angle closure glaucoma, a medical emergency due to the risk of impending permanent vision loss, is characterised by sudden ocular pain, seeing halos around lights, red eyes, very high intraocular pressure, nausea and vomiting, and suddenly decreased vision. In such a case, the patient needs urgent treatment. (image source: getty images)

Diagnosis: Once glaucoma is diagnosed, the patient should strictly follow the treatment and do regular follow-up as per the doctor's recommendation. If there is family history, all the members should do a regular eye check-up to rule out glaucoma. (Image Source: Getty)

Treatment Options: Treatment options for glaucoma include topical anti-glaucoma medications, laser procedures, and surgery. Initial treatment typically involves medications, followed by laser therapy if needed, and surgical intervention as a last option. In congenital or infantile glaucoma, surgical treatment is often the first choice. (Image source: getty images)

Inputs by: Dr. Avijit Paul, Disha Eye Hospitals  (Image source: getty images)