Glaucoma is quite a deceitful eye disorder. This does not usually manifest any early symptoms so people who have this are often clueless that the ailment is progressing. Then, once the problem is intensified, that is the only time when indications would be noticed.

When this eye problem develops further, the optic nerve will become damaged. Because of that, the transmission and processing of images would no longer be done by the brain properly. The optic nerve is responsible for sending information to the brain. When it fails, then vision would be jeopardized too.

People who have glaucoma have higher pressure in their eyes compared to the persons without it. This high pressure is also referred to as ocular hypertension.

Progressed Glaucoma Symptoms

Though the earlier stage of this eye ailment does not involve any observable indication, patients who have this will eventually suffer the following if it is left undiagnosed and untreated:

• •    Difficulty in focusing vision or blurry sight
• •    Loss of peripheral vision
• •    Difficulty with mobility, bumping into objects and over head cupboards.

Types

There are six different types of glaucoma. To be able to determine which type is affecting the patient’s vision, it is important to see a physician so that proper testing procedures can be conducted. Among the common tests include intraocular pressure measurement using tanometer, visual field testing or gonioscopy. These are the different kinds:

• 1.    Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma. This involves high eye pressure which could result to loss of peripheral vision. Since there are no early warnings for this ailment, the problem could lead to having tunnel vision and eventually loss of eyesight.
• 2.    Angle-Closure Glaucoma. This manifests symptoms such as eye pain, sudden loss of vision, seeing halos on lights, headache, nausea and vomiting. Usually, when the symptoms strike, it will only last for a few minutes then subside. Unfortunately, the same set of problems will recur again.
• 3.    Pigmentary. This is triggered by the lower amount of aqueous outflow from the eye, though this is quite rare. It involves a pigment from the iris which blocks the drainage angle of the eye. The typical profile for this type of glaucoma is a male that is short sighted between the ages of 35 – 45.
• 4.    Normal-Tension. Interestingly, the pressure on the eyes remain normal in this case. However, its effect involves visual field loss because the optic nerve is gradually damaged.
• 5.    Congenital. This is manifested on babies the moment that they are born because it is inherited. The problem can be detected only when the child is already one-year old and above.
• 6.    Secondary. This is triggered if the eye experienced trauma due to injury

Treatment

Physicians and Optometrists do not immediately recommend surgery. Usually, they prescribe eye drops which will regulate the pressure on the eyes or IOP. If the drops work, then progress of glaucoma can be prevented.

For more severe cases, patients might need to undergo surgery or laser procedures. However, this should be done with doctor’s recommendation too since the age, extent of problem and health of the patient should be carefully considered.

At The Eye Practice we use the latest technology to diagnose glaucoma.  being therapeutically qualified Dr Jim Kokkinakis treats glaucoma by prescription of anti glaucoma eye drops. In the event that the glaucoma is resilient to normal treatment protocol we will refer you to a glaucoma surgeon for more aggressive treatment.

Call us on (02) 9290 1899 or BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE.