ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GLAUCOMA, THIS GLAUCOMA WEEK

Glaucoma is an eye condition associated with an increase in eye pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve, which results in permanent blindness. It is the most frequent global cause of permanent vision loss.

According to global estimates, there will be 111.8 million glaucoma patients worldwide by 2040, with the majority of them living in Africa and Asia. 1.12 crore Indians (4.5% of the population), including children, are estimated to have glaucoma, and 11 lakhs of them have gone blind as a result.

Once lost, vision cannot be recovered, but an eye doctor can help protect and preserve your remaining vision with early detection and treatment. Early-stage patients have no visual impairment and can lead completely normal lives.

Glaucoma cannot be found during a routine eye exam for glasses (undilated eye examination). Only a thorough eye exam, which includes measuring eye pressure, a dilated fundus examination, and, in some circumstances, a gonioscopy, can aid in early glaucoma detection.

People over 40 are more likely to develop glaucoma, especially those with high myopia or diabetes (one in eight people above 40 years of age are at risk for glaucoma). The risk of developing glaucoma increases for people with a family history of the disease, as well as for those who have had eye surgery, suffered an eye injury, or all three. To rule out glaucoma, they should have yearly eye exams.

The doctors also advise against using steroids without a doctor's advice and only when necessary. Steroid abuse can also result in glaucoma. People who must use steroids, whether through eye drops, inhalers, ointments, or tablets, should also have their eyes checked on a regular basis.

While it is true that people over 40 have a higher risk of developing open-angle glaucoma, people under 40 can also be affected by other types of glaucoma, some of which can be very severe. Due to abnormal eye development, even young newborns and infants can develop glaucoma.

Similar to how a damaged camera's film (or 100-megapixel sensor) cannot be fixed by switching lenses, an eye with glaucoma won't benefit from cataract removal and intraocular lens implantation alone.

Glaucoma can be treated with medications (typically eye drops), lasers (of various types), and surgery, if necessary, depending on the type, severity, and prior medical history. The goal of glaucoma treatment is to manage eye pressure and stop further vision loss brought on by glaucoma.

Surgery for glaucoma typically focuses on maintaining what vision is still present rather than improving it. Accompanying cataract surgery, when the eye has a cataract, can restore vision lost to the condition.