How to detect glaucoma? The leading cause of blindness in India 

Glaucoma, often called the “silent thief of sight,” is a degenerative eye disease that develops slowly. It is caused by typical damage to the optic nerve that eventually progresses into blindness. 

In the early stages, glaucoma, which is a group of eye disorders, might show no symptoms at all. But as the condition progresses, it can cause irreparable sight loss. Hence, even if you experience blurry vision, it’s best to check with an ophthalmologist, say experts. 

• Silent chronic glaucoma can show symptoms like headaches, blurry vision with feelings of heaviness around the eyes 
• Decreased vision, glaring, watering or enlarged eyes should be treated immediately 
• People with diabetes are at high risk of glaucoma  
• Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness, especially in people above 60. 

So how do we get to know the early signs of this degenerative eye disease? 

Dr Ritika Sachdev, Director, Medical Services, Centre For Sight, highlighted that normally, an eye has a certain pressure – 11 to 21 mm Hg (like a balloon filled with water), which is required for the eye to function in a healthy manner. This pressure is created by a fluid called aqueous humor, which is continuously formed and drained out from the eye throughout your life. Any disturbance in maintaining this delicate balance leads to high pressure, which in turn damages the nerve fibers and causes Glaucoma. 

Types of Glaucoma 

Open angle glaucoma is the silent chronic variety. It does not have any symptoms in the early stages. It is only seen during an eye test. Later, it could result in feelings of heaviness in and around the eyes, headache, frequent change in spectacle number or even inability to see certain areas in the field of vision. 

Narrow angle glaucoma can cause acute pain, redness, headache or seeing coloured rings around light bulbs. These symptoms are heightened during the evenings or in dim light because the pupil dilates, leading to compromised exit channels for fluid to drain out and resulting in high pressure inside the eye. 

Secondary glaucoma can occur due to various causes like injury, inflammation, tumours of the eye, haemorrhage, or even drugs like steroids etc. 

Secondary glaucoma can occur due to various causes like injury, inflammation, tumours of the eye, haemorrhage, or even drugs like steroids etc. 

Congenital glaucoma is a condition where the exit channels are poorly formed since birth. Due to high pressure, the cornea becomes opaque, and the eye may gradually become larger. The child might complain of decreased vision, glaring, watering or enlarged eyes. This should be treated immediately. 

Who is at high risk of glaucoma? 

• People who have diabetes 
• People who wear glasses because of myopia/hypermetropia 
• People consuming steroids 
• Family history of glaucoma 
• People who have thyroid diseases 
• Other eye diseases such as uveitis, vitreous hemorrhage, or any major eye surgery. 

• Eye injury 

Treatment for Glaucoma 

The treatment for glaucoma is aimed at keeping eye pressure at a normal range. 

If the eye pressure is not controlled, then glaucoma surgery is required. 

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/how-to-detect-glaucoma-the-leading-cause-of-blindness-in-india-2489889-2024-01-17