Glaucoma - One Common Cause Of Blindness - By: Roby John

Glaucoma can be defined as a group of diseases sharing certain features like high pressure within the eye, loss of peripheral vision, damage to the optic nerve and probably blindness. It is characterized as the end product of the number of structural and systematic diseases. The pressure within the eye can kill sensitive nerve cells in the back of the eye causing blindness. Glaucoma is one of the most common diseases found over the age of forty. There is no pain and the disease goes unnoticed thereby making the nerve dysfunction. The pressure in the eye is due to aqueous humor where the clear water fluid circulates in the chamber of the eye between the cornea and the lens, causing damage to the optic nerve.

The cornea is the outer cover of the eye. Separating it from the colored part i.e. the Iris is the anterior chamber, a space filled with aqueous humor. This fluid starts in the ciliary body just behind the iris. It circulates in the anterior chamber, nourishing the eye's delicate tissue and keeping it from collapsing. If the aqueous humor cannot drain properly, either because the drainage canals become clogged or because the iris is pushing against the cornea, it backs up, putting pressure on the gel in the vitreous cavity at the center of the eye. The building pressure affects the delicate optic nerve at the rear of the eye. Damage to this nerve, that transmits images to the brain, results in vision loss.

Glaucoma is of several types:

Congenital glaucoma: affects young people. These children usually have obvious symptoms, such as cloudy eyes, sensitivity to light, and excessive tearing. If surgery is done on time, these children usually have an excellent chance of having good vision.

Secondary glaucoma: usually the result of an injury or trauma. This is sometimes associated with advanced cataracts, eye injuries, eye tumors, uveitis (eye inflammation).

Pigmentary glaucoma: occurs when pigment from the iris flakes off and blocks the meshwork, slowing down fluid drainage.

Primary glaucoma: usually associated with aging.
• Acute or closed angle glaucoma is less common but a very serious type of glaucoma. There are acute chances of corrective vision in this type. It can also erupt in violent attacks and intense pain, rather than emerging subtly.
• Chronic or open angle glaucoma is the most common type. Patients with this type of glaucoma usually have normal or low pressure in the eye and gradually develop optic nerve changes and progressive vision loss without any symptoms until the disease has progressed to the loss of peripheral vision.

Normal tension glaucoma: is present although eye pressure is normal. The optic nerve damage and narrowed side vision (peripheral vision) occur in people with normal eye pressure.

Symptoms of glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes. Some common symptoms are:
• A dull aching pain over one eye.
• Changes in eye vision
• Blurring and haloes around lights.

Under such circumstances, you are required to immediately consult your doctor and get the treatment accordingly.

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