About Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the nerve of the eye (optic nerve), which relays information to the brain. If left undetected and untreated, it can eventually lead to permanent vision loss.

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the nerve of the eye, which relays information to the brain

Does Glaucoma lead to blindness?

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People with Glaucoma can have a good quality of life without fear of going blind, if their Glaucoma is detected early and treated properly.

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Hence regular screening for Glaucoma is important.

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Once diagnosed, lifelong followup with an eye doctor is essential.

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Surgical options will have to be considered in advanced or uncontrolled Glaucoma to prevent blindness.

How common is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the most common cause of permanent blindness.1

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It affects about 1.2 crore people in India.2

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Studies have estimated that 11.1 crore individuals will be affected by Glaucoma by 2040, a vast majority from Asia and Africa.3

How does eye pressure effect Glaucoma?

Elevated eye pressure increases the risk of having glaucoma. However, it is possible to have glaucoma with below average eye pressure. The ideal or normal eye pressure for different individuals varies. Treatment option for glaucoma aim at decreasing eye pressure.

How is Glaucoma diagnosed?

Comprehensive Eye Exam Eye pressure evaluation (Tonometry) Drainage angle evaluation (Gonioscopy) Optic disc evaluation Visual field assessment (Perimetry)

What are the risk factors for Glaucoma?

Steroid use Increasing age 40+ Eye injury High refractive error (near sight or far sight) Eye surgery Parents or siblings with glaucoma

What are the risk factors of narrow angles?

Female gender Older age Far sighted Asian descent Family history-narrow angles Significant cataract

What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is often referred to as the ‘Silent thief of sight.’

Most people are unaware that they have a problem as there is no symptoms in the beginning.

In early stages side (peripheral) vision is affected and in end stage central vision is affected leading to blindness.

Image showing 3 stages of tunnel vision

What are the treatment options
available for Glaucoma?

Glaucoma treatment is aimed at lowering eye pressure and prevent further vision loss due to Glaucoma.
Eye pressure lowering treatment Eyedrops Tube implants Glaucoma filtering surgery Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery Laser

Surgery is performed when the eye pressure is not controlled by drops, laser or nerve damage is worsening. A patient may need more than one surgery in their lifetime.

Once diagnosed, periodic followup throughout lifetime is necessary.

Glaucoma can be treated, not cured.

What are the types of Glaucoma?

Primary

(No identifiable cause. Occurs in predisposed individuals)

  • Open angle Glaucoma.
  • Angle closure/Narrow angle Glaucoma.

Secondary

(Occurs secondary to other causes)

  • Eye injury.
  • Eye surgery.
  • Certain eye diseases.
  • Certain systemic diseases.
  • Steroid use.

What causes Glaucoma?

The exact cause is unknown.

There is a fluid within the eye called aqueous humor which provides nourishment to the eye tissues.

In Glaucoma, this fluid drains inefficiently or the passage through which it drains becomes blocked, causing eye pressure to build up.What-causes-Glaucoma

This causes damage to the blood vessels and nerves in the optic nerve resulting in permanent vision loss.

Diagram explaining insufficient drainage of aqueous humor fluid from the eye which leads to glaucoma
Drainage canal blocked: build-up of fluid Increased pressure damages optic nerve

When to see a doctor?

Get a baseline screening done at age of 40 or earlier if you are at increased risk. The doctor will tell you how often to follow up.
Why is it important to know about glaucoma? 90% of glaucoma is undetected. Early detection and proper treatment can help preserve vision. 40% of vision can be lost before one becomes aware of it. Vision lost cannot be restored.

To learn more, consult your doctor

Did you know?

Picture of old lady able to manage glaucoma.
Glaucoma affects about 1.2 crore people in India.2 Early detection and treatment is key in managing Glaucoma.

References

  1. G1.BD 2019 Blindness and Vision Impairment Collaborators; Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study. Causes of blindness and vision impairment in 2020 and trends over 30 years, and prevalence of avoidable blindness in relation to
    VISION 2020: the Right to Sight: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet Glob Health. 2021 Feb;9(2):e144-e160.
  2. George R, Ve RS, Vijaya L. Glaucoma in India: estimated burden of disease. J Glaucoma. 2010 Aug;19(6):391-7.
  3. Tham YC, Li X, Wong TY, Quigley HA, Aung T, Cheng CY. Global prevalence of Glaucoma and projections of Glaucoma burden through 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2014 Nov;121(11):2081-90.