- Posted by Admin on January 10, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Hope you had a lovely Christmas.
I was going to tell you a wee bit about glaucoma. It is a very important eye condition and one that every optometrist looks for when they check your eyes.
It is a very serious condition that can lead to blindness. Its also, for most sufferers, a very sneaky condition: its not painful and you won't notice any change in your vision until the condition is quite advanced and more difficult to treat.
Glaucoma is defined as a disease of the optic nerve with characteristic changes in the optic nerve head (optic disc) and typical defects in the visual field with or without raised IOP. (NICE Guidelines)
What that means is that there are changes in the nerve at the back of your eye. A consequence of this is that nerve fibres on the back surface of your eye are damaged and this leads to loss in your visual field, which is the area you see all around when you are looking straight ahead.
It is often, but not always, associated with raised pressure within the eye (Intraocular pressure or IOP)
Once lost, this damaged visual field can never be recovered. Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve with visual field loss, which can progress to blindness, but if diagnosed early it is amenable to treatment.
Glaucoma can be divided roughly into two main categories: acute or closed angle glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).
ACUTE GLAUCOMA
This often appears suddenly and is usually painful; visual loss can progress quickly but it is very apparent to the patient that something is wrong; your eye would be very red and painful and you would be more sensitive to the lights, you would see coloured haloes around lamps and streetlights. There is no discharge but your eye might be watery due to the pain and light sensitivity. Your vision would get more and more hazy, and the discomfort would increase instead of beginning to subside.
If you notice these symptoms you should seek urgent attention from an optometrist or accident and emergency department
PRIMARY OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA
This type of glaucoma is much more insidious. It progresses more slowly and you don't notice any changes in your vision or any discomfort until the condition is quite far advanced. That's why it is important to go for regular eye checks.
It is rare for the condition to occur in the under-40's age-group.
You are more likely to get it if a close family member has it.
That's why, when you do get your eyes tested that the optometrist will ask about your family history.
If you are over 40 your IOP will be checked routinely, as well as close examination of your eyes, particularly your optic nerves. Should either of these checks be dubious your visual fields will be checked.
It is possible that you would be asked back a month or so later to have these checks done again.
If the optometrist is suspicious of glaucoma then you will be referred to the local eye clinic via your GP.
All of the above sounds really scary, but please don't be scared. Glaucoma is reasonably easily treated. It cannot be cured but it is mostly very well controlled with eye-drops. Surgical options are available if the eye-drops are not effective enough.
I know this is all a wee bit wordy but glaucoma is serious, but if its caught early it is nothing to worry about. My dad had glaucoma and I just make sure that I have an eye examination every year that includes a pressure check and visual field check, as well as examination of the back of my eyes. I don't worry about it one bit.
Go and get your eyes tested.
Any queries, as always, just ask.
Regards,
Carla
