Glaucoma- The silent thief of vision.
Glaucoma is the leading cause for blindness, especially among elder people and is hence referred to as “The silent thief of vision”. According to the World Health Organization, Glaucoma is the third largest cause for blindness worldwide. It is responsible for blindness in 5.2 million people across the globe.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. It is caused due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) resulting in either a malformation or malfunctioning in the eye’s drainage structures. Glaucoma can damage the nerve fibers causing blindness in the person. Open Angle and Acute Angle Closure are the two common types of Glaucoma
When a person is suffering from Open Angle glaucoma, aqueous fluids built within the anterior chamber, causing the IOP to become elevated. The anterior structures however appear normal. If left untreated, the disease can damage the optic nerve and retina of the person permanently. Acute angle closure causes a reduction in the space between the iris and the cornea, leaving a smaller channel for aqueous to pass through. If left untreated, , severe and permanent loss in vision will occur in a matter of days.
Symptoms of glaucoma include blurred vision, severe eye pain, headache, nausea and vomiting and rainbow haloes around light. If you notice one or more of these symptoms, rush to an eye doctor immediately. The earlier the disease is diagnosed and treated, better will be the results of treatment, as the damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Glaucoma is treated either with medication or through surgery, depending on the severity of the case. Medications include eye drops and pills, which when administered, reduces the eye pressure. If medication is not sufficient to treat the case, laser surgery or operative surgery has to be done.
When laser is used to treat open-angle glaucoma, laser is used to enlarge the drain. This helps to control eye pressure. In angle-closure glaucoma, the laser is used to create a hole in the iris, which in turn improves aqueous fluid flow to the drain. However, laser surgery cannot be used as a treatment in all cases of glaucoma. In certain cases, operative surgery is needed to control glaucoma.
When operative surgery is needed, the ophthalmologist will use miniature instruments to create new drainage channel to allow the aqueous fluid to flow out of the eye. The new channel helps lower the pressure on the eye. Eye surgeries require a surgeon or an ophthalmologist with a great deal of expertise. India has many hospitals and clinics with latest equipments for treating any eye disease or vision surgery.
Owing to the expensiveness of treatment and long waiting lists in native countries, many people are opting for treatment in Asiatic countries like India where it is possible to get quality health care at a fraction of the cost that they would get back home. A well planned medical tour can give you a great vacation time visiting some of the destinations of great interest. Since Glaucoma has to be treated at the early stages and immediate treat
