World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative by the World Glaucoma Association to raise awareness on the eye disease glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a common condition where the eyes optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes impaired. If left untreated, this can cause full or partial blindness. There are many different types of glaucoma, which can happen from any age but it is seen to be more common in people aged 70 onwards. This world glaucoma week our aim is to educate patients on the disease and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in preventing serious sight loss caused by glaucoma.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
Accurately named “The Silent Thief of Sight” glaucoma presents little to no symptoms until vision becomes impaired and usually by this point it is too late to reverse the loss in vision. There are many different types of glaucoma, with varying symptoms. When it affects sight, glaucoma begins to impair peripheral vision, gradually moving in towards the centre of vision until eventually, there is full vision loss. It is not yet known if glaucoma is entirely preventable but it can be picked up during routine eye tests.
As well as your routine sight tests, you should always visit your local optician if you experience any of the following:
- Loss of vision
- Severe eye pain
- Frequent headaches/nausea
- Redness in the ryes
- Halos (rings) around lights
Causes of Glaucoma
Glaucoma can be caused by a number of different reasons. In most cases, a build-up of pressure in the eye causes damage to the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. The process of fluid creation is constantly happening inside the eyes. The build-up of pressure in the eye happens when fluid is unable to drain properly. This can happen for a number of reasons, but there are some things that do increase the risk, such as:
- Your age (the risk increases the older you become)
- Your ethnicity (people of Caribbean, African or Asian origin are at higher risk)
- If you have a family history of glaucoma
- Medical conditions like short/long sightedness or diabetes
Treatment
When it comes to glaucoma, early detection is imperative to saving as much of your vision as possible. Once diagnosed with glaucoma, there are a range of possible treatments to reduce the pressure in your eye to a safer level. This can vary from medicines, which stimulate the flow of fluid from the eye to release the pressure, to surgical techniques, to create a further drainage channel for the fluid to leave the eye from. These treatments do make it possible to slow the progression of glaucoma and protect your sight, but the most important thing that you can do is remember to go for regular eye health checks.
Are you worried about Glaucoma?
If you are worried you may be suffering from glaucoma or have noticed a change in your vision visit your optometrist as soon as possible. At ACES we can cover advanced diagnosis and treatment plans to help keep your glaucoma at a manageable level. Your GP/Optometrist can refer you to ACES for treatment. Ask them today for more information.
