GLAUCOMA CARE

GLAUCOMA CARE AT AARADHYA NETRALAYA
AVAILABILITY OF GLAUCOMA SUPERSPECIALIST
WELL EQUPIPED MACHINERY TO DIGNOSE GLAUCOMA AND FOR ITS MONITORING PERIMETRY[VISUAL FIELD TEST]
• RNFL OCT SCAN
• GCC MEASUREMENT
• GOLDMANN TONOMETRY
• HAND HELD TONOMETRY
• GONIOSCOPY
• YAG PERIPHERAL IRIDOTOMY
• GLAUCOMA SURGERY
• GLAUCOMA DRAINAGE DEVICES

Prevalence of glaucoma
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.
Lack of awareness about Glaucoma and misunderstanding of the disease are the main reasons why most cases remain undetected.

What is Glaucoma/Kalamotia
Glaucoma is a group of disorders in which, fluid pressure within the eye increases to a level, causing irreversible damage to the vision(optic nerve], that connects the eye to the brain to transmit visual images.
Damage to the optic nerve results in irreversible blindness if left untreated.

It is a silent thief of vision.

Type of glaucoma
There are two major types of glaucoma:
1. Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG)-This is the most common type of glaucoma and mostly asymptomatic. The damage occurs gradually.

2. Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma(PACG)-This type with hallow or closed angles of anterior chamber sometimes present with sudden onset of red and painful eyes and would lead to blindness if not treated immediately.
Congenital Glaucoma is known to occur in children born with malformations in the angle of the eye. It can be detected by symptoms such as large cloudy eyes, severe sensitivity to light and excessive tearing or watery eyes.

Risk Factors:-
Everyone is at a risk of getting affected by Glaucoma. But certain risk factors for the disease are:
• High intraocular pressure
• Age –Risk increases with age ,especially those beyond 40years of age
• Heredity-Primary OPNE Angle Glaucoma affects those with a family history of glaucoma(13%)
• Ethnicity-Glaucoma is common among Asians Africans-Americans and Hispanics
• Sustained eye injury –In such cases, glaucoma can occur immediately after the injury or even in later years
• High myopia (nearsightedness)
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Steroids intake

Treatment of Glaucoma

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled.
Aim of treatment is to reduce eye pressure using eye drops and medicines.
In few, laser treatment is given to open up the drainage area for the fluid.
In much severe cases, conventional surgery is performed to create a new drainage path.
For congenital glaucoma, surgery is recommended because the effects of eye drops in infants are unknown.

Things to remember about Glaucoma
• Glaucoma , like diabetes, cannot be cured, only controlled.
• Vision lost due to glaucoma cannot be recovered.
• Early detection and treatment of glaucoma will prevent further loss of sight and blindness.
• It is essential that people above the age of 40 and those with a family history of glaucoma have their eyes examined periodically to detect glaucoma early.
• Once diagnosed as having glaucoma ,the patient should be committed for lifelong treatment and periodical eye check up.
• Drugs prescribed by the doctor should be regularly used at the specified time ,to ensure round –the-clock pressure control.