Glaucoma Eye Disease

Glaucoma is an eye disorder that affects the vision and may eventually make one blind. After cataract, glaucoma is the commonest of the eye diseases. This severe disease can be prevented if it is detected in the early stages. As more and more people are suffering from it, medical research is being carried out by the doctors to find out the most effective cure for it.

What is Glaucoma?
Eye is a complex, soft tissue organ that is connected to the rest of the body with the help of nerves and blood vessels. The eye is filled with a liquid called aqueous humor which gives softness to the eye and also helps in carrying the vital nutrients to the eye. The other important function of aqueous humor is to maintain the pressure inside the eye. The eye pressure is known as the intra-ocular pressure or IOP. In glaucoma eye disease, the intra-ocular pressure is abnormal which causes the aqueous to fill up in the eye, thus damaging the optical nerve and hampering vision.

Types of Glaucoma
Glaucoma eye disease has been categorized into different types according to the causes and symptoms.

• Chronic glaucoma: It is the most common type of glaucoma that occurs mostly in people who are in the age group of above 40. It is also known as open angle glaucoma. In this condition, the aqueous humor slowly drains inside the eye resulting in increased intra-ocular pressure. It may not show any symptoms until the later stage of the disease. It can also lead to permanent vision impairment if not detected.
• Closed angle (acute) glaucoma: In this glaucoma, the intra-ocular or IOP rises abruptly due to the blocking of the eye canals. Some people have narrow canals in the internal structure of the eye. Due to sudden increase of IOP, the person suffering from closed angle glaucoma feels acute pain in the eyes, nausea and blurred vision. However, it can be treated with proper medication. A surgery can also be performed to open the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye.
• Secondary glaucoma: When glaucoma is a symptom of another disease or has been caused by a trauma or an accident, it is considered as the secondary glaucoma.
• Normal tension glaucoma: When the aqueous flow and pressure is normal but the optic nerve is damaged, then it is called normal tension glaucoma. It is mainly due to the delicate optic nerve tissues and constricted blood vessels connected to the eye.
• Primary congenital glaucoma: By birth, some people have internal damage to the eye which causes glaucoma. It is discovered in the infant when their eyes become excessive watery and sensitive to light. It also causes the expansion of the cornea. Easily detected, primary congenital glaucoma can be treated with medicated eye drops.

Glaucoma Eye Disease - Causes
Glaucoma eye problems can be due to the following causes:

1. Increase of Intra-ocular pressure in the eye is the primary cause of glaucoma.
2. Another cause can be due to blockage of drain canals in the eye, thus resulting in excess aqueous humor in the eye
3. Physical injury to eye or the nerves can also lead to glaucoma eye disease.
4. Age is an important factor which plays a vital role in the health of the eye.
5. Glaucoma is also caused by the damage to nerve tissue due to other disease.
6. Some people are prone to this disease due to hereditary.
7. Congenital defects in eye are also the chief cause of glaucoma in infants.

Glaucoma Eye Disease Symptoms
This disease hardly show any symptoms in the early stages. But later on, acute pain in the eye can be felt. The person would experience blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and even fainting. The eyes become sensitive to light in the glaucoma eye disease. In the advanced stage of the disease, the vision might be completely impaired.

Glaucoma Eye Disease Treatment
Glaucoma eye disease is only treatable if detected at an early stage. Once the vision is lost, then nothing can be done. There are different types of treatment which can be done according to the state of glaucoma.

• Medications: The eye drops prescribed by the ophthalmologist, would lower the intra-ocular pressure inside the eye. Prostaglandins are given to the patients for the better flow of the aqueous humor inside the eye. Lumigan is a FDA approved prostaglandins prescribed for glaucoma. Doctors also suggest beta-blockers which stops the rapid production of aqueous in the eye. Several other drugs like epinephrine, parasympathomimetics and miotics have been used to effectively to control the fluid drainage in the eye.
• Surgery: When the eye medication is not effective, the other option can be surgery. Sometimes surgery can be the first option if the damage to the optic nerve is extensive. Eye surgery options include trabeculectomy where the surgeon makes an opening in the interior structure of the eye for the outflow of the aqueous humor. The common method of surgery is laser surgery. In open angle glaucoma, trabeculoplasty is done where the laser rays burn some tissues of the drainage canal of the eye so that the fluid would flow with normal intra ocular pressure. Iridotomy is done in the closed angle glaucoma. In this laser eye surgery, the operation is done by removing a part of the iris to make the angle of the eye bigger for the flow of the eye fluid.

According to an English proverb, eyes are the windows to the soul. Therefore, utmost care has to be taken to keep your eyes healthy. Have regular check up of your eyes if you have crossed the 40-year threshold. Taking necessary measures for eye care and leading a healthy lifestyle would go a long way in improving the eyesight.