Glaucoma is a serious eye disorder, and can prove to be much worse if not diagnosed soon. Read on to know more about how to identify it early on…
Glaucoma is an eye disease that occurs from damage to the optic nerve. This kind of damage occurs because of excess pressure inside the eyeball. The damage is irreversible, and, if left untreated, it can cause blindness. Usually, it affects those who are above the age of 65 years. However, diabetic patients, people who are taking medicines for high blood pressure, or those who have severe shortsightedness are prone to glaucoma as well. The worst part is that its symptoms only show up when the disorder is already at an advanced stage.
Various Forms of Glaucoma
There are various types of this disorder, and each comes with its own set of symptoms.
Open-angle
This is the most common form of glaucoma. It is caused due to blockage in the canals of the eyes. As a result, the normal drainage process gets affected and results in accumulation of fluid and a rise in intraocular pressure (or IOP). In most cases, patients do not notice any symptoms. Some people may experience a partial loss of peripheral vision. However, it is so less that it often goes undetected. By the time it gets detected, it may have already done extensive damage.
Closed-angle
This is a rare form, and is also known as acute glaucoma. This is caused by narrowing down of the opening between the cornea and the iris. In this case, fluid buildup takes place at a rapid pace. Pain in the eyes, nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, loss of vision, etc., are some of the most commonly observed symptoms. Some patients complain of rainbow-colored circles in front of their eyes when they look at bright light. Within a period of just few hours, one may experience permanent vision loss.
Normal-tension
The strange part of this form is that it damages the optic nerve and leads to loss of vision, but the intraocular pressure remains normal. This is mostly caused due to low blood pressure. It is more commonly found in women than in men.
In Infants
This is known as primary congenital glaucoma. It is caused due to congenital or hereditary factors. The symptoms are difficult to detect, as children are unable to recognize them. Some that parents can identify are cloudy corneas, hazy eyes, constant tearing of the eyes and extra sensitivity towards light. It is more common in boys than in girls.
In Dogs
The unique feature of the canine disease is that, for some unknown reason, it affects their left eye first. Female dogs are more prone to it than males. The observed signs in dogs are enlargement and reddening of the affected eye, which may vary from mild to severe, and is accompanied by tearing of the eyes, and photophobia.
There is no way to prevent glaucoma. An early detection and treatment at the initial stage can be highly beneficial for prevention of extensive damage. For this reason, even for a small change of vision, one should consult an ophthalmologist. People above the age of 60 and diabetic patients should be extra careful, and get an eye checkup done regularly. Those who have a family history of glaucoma should also do the same.
