Glaucoma - Did You Know These Facts?

Glaucoma is an umbrella term that refers to a host of eye diseases which may lead to permanent loss of vision when left untreated by causing severe damage to the optic nerve. The eyes are always producing a fluid known as aqueous which must drain out of the eyes for maintaining the right eye pressure. You should visit the ophthalmologist at least once a year to know whether you have signs of glaucoma.

It is quite unfortunate that there is no cure for glaucoma yet and the loss of vision that has taken place over a long stretch of time cannot be regained by any means. However, medicine and surgery can inhibit further progression of the disease. If you are affected by open-angle glaucoma, your vision and eye health have to be monitored all through the life. Early diagnosis plays a critical role in fending off the disease.

There are various causes of glaucoma and elevated pressure in the eyes is regarded as the most common cause. It may cause permanent damage to the optic nerves when left untreated or undetected. It is worthy of mention here that the optic nerve is in charge of transmitting information from the eyes to the brain which is then processed. Glaucoma may lead to loss of side or peripheral vision in the first place which can affect the ability of the affected individual to move safely on roads. If left untreated, with the passage of time, it can cause loss of central vision as well. It is advisable to consult your ophthalmologist at the earliest.

Open-angle glaucoma and angle closure glaucoma are the two primary types of the disease. Open-angle glaucoma is most common and affects around 95 percent of people. It may lead to both peripheral and central loss of vision. On the other hand, angle-closure glaucoma comes in two forms- acute and chronic. And everyone from babies to young adults to older people can get glaucoma. While older people are at a high risk of having glaucoma, there are babies born with the disease.