“Early detection, through regular and complete eye exams, is the key to protecting your vision from damage caused by glaucoma”.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases causing optic nerve damage. The optic nerve carries images from the retina, which is the specialized light sensing tissue, to the brain so we can see. In glaucoma, eye pressure plays a role in damaging the delicate nerve fibers of the optic nerve. When a significant number of nerve fibers are damaged, blind spots develop in the field of vision. Once nerve damage and visual loss occur, it is permanent. It is a leading cause of blindness after cataract.
It’s said that Blindness from glaucoma is irreversible. An Early detection is the key to preserving vision. Often, patients are not aware that they are having vision loss because the central vision is preserved upto the advanced stages. In early stage, only the ‘Field-of-view’ may be affected. This can be detected by meticulous ophthalmic evaluation with advanced technology. Our aim is to diagnose glaucoma early and prevent vision loss.
Who should be tested for glaucoma?
- Everyone from babies to senior citizens can develop glaucoma.
- People with age over 40 years.
- Glaucoma in the family history.
- Diabetes/ thyroid disease / hypertension
- Have received steroid containing preparations :tablets/ drops/ ointments/ puffs/ injection
- See rainbow colored rings around bright light
- Have a rapid change of glasses
- Have had an injury on the face /eye
- Myopic eye
- Have headaches
Tests required in glaucoma
- Visual field test (perimetry)
- Tonometry (measurement of eye pressure)
- Diurnal variation of IOP
- Dilated examination
- Glaucoma OCT
Glaucoma cannot be prevented. There is no cure for glaucoma. But it can be controlled by appropriate medications and regular eye checkups. Therefore this can help prevent further loss of vision.
—
Dr. Anurag Mathur
MBBS, MS
Ophthalmology
Aster Jubilee Medical Complex (AJMC)
