World Glaucoma Day is celebrated each year on 12th March, mainly to raise people’s attention and enable early detection of glaucoma. In glaucoma, the optic nerve often gets damaged due to increased pressure within the eyeball.
Therefore, when detected at an early stage, it becomes easier to manage glaucoma through medication in Ayurveda, whereas the modern medicine system encourages laser treatment and surgery.
After Cataracts, the most talked about eye disease is Glaucoma, causing blindness worldwide. When left untreated, glaucoma becomes more complicated, and the blindness caused is irreversible.
Closing near World Glaucoma Day 2024 is almost here!
World Glaucoma Day 2024’s theme has been to unite and fight against glaucoma by raising awareness worldwide and letting the nearby community know the key steps to combat it.
What are the leading causes of glaucoma?
Glaucoma is mainly caused by fluid aggregation in the eyes, which causes enhanced eye pressure. The fluid buildup in the eyes is called aqueous humor, which fails to drain naturally from the eyes and is not replaceable with fresh aqueous humor.
The fluid drainage is stopped as the drainage angle changes, leading it to open or closed-angle glaucoma. Due to excessive pressure, the optic nerve fiber, over time, starts dying, causing total, irreversible blindness.
Glaucoma Symptoms
Depending on the type of Glaucoma the most frequently seen glaucoma symptoms include
- Pain in the head area
- Rainbow-coloured halos in lights
- Low vision
- Pressure in the eyes
- Blurred vision
- Tunnel vision or blind spots
- vomiting tendency
- Red eyes
Types of Glaucoma
There are various types of Glaucoma types, but we have discussed the first two types, which are the most common.
- Narrow or acute angle-closure glaucoma: In this glaucoma type, the iris blocks the outflow of aqueous humor, which induces a significant increase in eye pressure, pain, blurred vision and redness.
- Chronic or open-angle glaucoma is another type wherein the eye pressure is high, but the initial symptoms are not evident. Such glaucoma types are not easily diagnosed, and when diagnosed, it starts affecting vision.
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Steps Included in Raising Awareness
The first and foremost step is to start going for regular eye checkups for all age groups. Regular eye checkups help to ensure your vision health is in good condition, which is World Glaucoma Day’s primary goal. By encouraging everyone to participate in a regular eye checkup, you can check and hold onto your precious sight longer.
Is blindness due to glaucoma reversible?
Glaucoma could be prevented, provided it is diagnosed at an early stage. During the early diagnosis of diseases, the affected eye has more than 10 to 20% plus vision, giving it a higher probability of recovery. At Dr Basu’s hospital, we have treated patients suffering from glaucoma who had more than 10 % plus vision left with them and have successfully recovered from the stage where they were on the verge of losing their eyesight. The forecast and answer to treatment are more reasonable the earlier the disease is interpreted.
Are patients aware that they have glaucoma?
In most cases, people do not know the fact that their glaucoma has become chronic as they do not have symptoms. Undergoing an ophthalmologic investigation is crucial to diagnose it in time. Ophthalmologic checkups are painless examination procedures such as
- Eye pressure measurement : A specific standard eye pressure is maintained in our eyes and if it gets impacted it needs to be checked.
- Evaluation of the visual field. This is a basic test to diagnose glaucoma and to modify the treatment to the needs of each patient.
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How to prevent Blindness due to Glaucoma ?
Eat Healthily – One can prevent glaucoma by instilling the habit of consuming a proportional diet full of healthy fruits and vegetables, which can help keep the eyes healthy. There are various fruits which you can add to your schedule including blueberries and avocados in your plate that can help protect against glaucoma and other vision problems.
Wear Protective Eyewear – The use of protective eyewear is mostly recommended by a doctor when engaging in connected sports or outdoor activities like cycling or skiing. It is essential in preventing injuries that could lead to glaucoma in the future.
Worldwide Glaucoma Data
Glaucoma is the leading reason for global irreversible blindness. It has been estimated that 60.5 million people were impacted by primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) globally in 2010. The latest data and the increasing number of people with glaucoma worldwide is predicted to reach 111.8 million in 2040, and these estimates are vital, making us aware of guiding the designs of glaucoma screening, treatment, and related public health strategies.
How to go about with Glaucoma Treatment?
Glaucoma treatment mainly involves reversing the damage caused to the eyes due to glaucoma. It’s pretty hard to reverse the damage caused by glaucoma can’t be reversed. However, treatment and regular checkups can assist in slowing or preventing vision loss, especially if you catch the disease early. Glaucoma treatment options include giving the medication as prescribed by the doctor, or many undergo laser treatment, surgery or a combination of approaches.
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