Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

It is group of eye disorders that is characterised by elevated eye pressure and damage to the nerve connecting the eye with the brain. The mechanisms are different in each subtype. Primary goal of treatment will be to decrease eye pressure with the use of drops and medications and prevent progressive nerve damage.

I had no eye problems. I went for a power check and my eye doctor told me that I have glaucoma. How is this possible?

Glaucoma is called “the silent thief of sight”. Apart from very few patients who notice decreasing vision, a majority do not have any visual complaints and glaucoma is detected on routine eye testing. In advanced stages, the “field of vision” is reduced and ability to see in the sides is decreased. Changes due to glaucoma are permanent and lost vision cannot be regained. Therefore it is essential to be aware of this condition.

My eye doctor has prescribed glaucoma drops 1 year ago. How long will I have to continue glaucoma drops?

Eye drops are given after checking your eye pressure. The medicine and its dose have to be adjusted based on eye pressure levels that are checked at regular intervals. Kindly be under the schedule that your eye doctor has given you. Few people have to continue medicines for a long time and for few people, medicines can be stopped after sometime. It all depends on your eye pressure and nerve damage which can be estimated only by your eye doctor.

I had eye laser done. How does it reduce eye pressure and treat glaucoma?

There are different types of eye laser treatment. Some are meant for glaucoma. Many laser treatments are for other eye diseases. It is essential to confirm that your eye laser treatment was for glaucoma.

For glaucoma, laser helps to create a hole in the brown part of the eye thereby creating an out flow path for fluid in the eye. Often, medicines have to be used along with laser to control glaucoma.

My glaucoma specialist has advised surgery for eye pressure control. My aunt uses only drops and her eye pressure is fine. How can the same disease have different treatments?

For few individuals, glaucoma may not be under control with medications. This will require glaucoma surgery. The surgery is aimed at controlling eye pressure and preventing further eye damage. Besides, there are different subtypes of the disease. Type of glaucoma and stage of disease at presentation decide the type of treatment offered.