What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition of the eye indicating damage to the optic nerve. It is the pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure, which results in damage to the optic nerve. Over time, this damage may result in vision loss or blindness.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60. Most cases tend to run in the family lines.
Most people with glaucoma may have no warning signs.
If this happens, vision cannot be brought back, but lowering eye pressure can help keep the sight you have. Visiting your doctor will help diagnose and manage glaucoma before you lose your vision completely. Your doctor will initiate a treatment plan and suggest regular eye checkups to avoid any severe consequences later in life.
Types of glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma
It is the most common form of glaucoma. The angle at which the iris and cornea meet remains open, but the trabecular meshwork is partially blocked. This happens slowly over time before you completely lose vision. Likely, people with open-angle glaucoma may not even know about it until the last time.
Angle-closure glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma develops when the iris comes out and blocks the drainage angle made by the cornea and iris. In response to this, fluid may not circulate or drain through the eyes. This starts to pressurize the optic nerve and brings in damage. While it could be a medical condition, some people are born with a narrow drainage angle, putting them at an increased risk of angle-closure glaucoma.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency.
Normal-tension glaucoma
In normal-tension glaucoma, although the eye pressure is within the normal range, your optic nerve is damaged. The cause of normal-tension glaucoma is not known yet- it could either be due to a sensitive optic nerve or low blood supply. An insufficient blood flow could be triggered by atherosclerosis (fatty deposits buildup in the arteries )- or other conditions that disrupt the blood circulation process.
Glaucoma in children
Infants and children also get glaucoma- since birth or in the initial years of life. The possible cause is drainage blockages or any medical condition.
Pigmentary glaucoma
In pigmentary glaucoma, the iris releases pigment granules that start to build in the drainage channels. This blocks the drainage system, and fluid may not exit from the eye. Some routine activities may generate more granules, fixing them on the trabecular meshwork and causing intraocular pressure flare-ups.
Symptoms
Primary open-angle glaucoma comes with no alarming signs except that vision starts to decrease. For that, you need to get a yearly comprehensive examination of the eyes. Your doctor will be able to monitor changes in your vision and suggest the underlying treatment for it.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma requires a medical emergency in case if you are experiencing these signs:
- severe pain in the eyes
- redness in your eye
- sudden vision disturbances
- halos around lights
- nausea and vomiting
- headache
If left untreated, glaucoma may lead to complete vision loss. Likely, people with glaucoma lose vision within 20 years of diagnosis of glaucoma.
When to see a doctor
Consult an eye specialist if you experience the signs or symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma, headache, pain in the eye, and blurry vision.
Causes
Glaucoma is triggered due to damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve has the tendency to deteriorate gradually, leading to blind spots in the visual field. For some reason, the cause of optic nerve damage is unknown yet, but studies have explained that an increase in pressure is the reason to be blamed.
Likely the cause of eye pressure is the buildup of a fluid (which usually flows in the eyes). This fluid automatically drains out through a tissue called the trabecular meshwork, present at the joints where the iris and corneas link; when there is too much production of this fluid or a problem in draining, the eye pressure increases, elevating the risk of glaucoma.
In less than a few cases, glaucoma may tend to be more prevalent in families with a history of glaucoma. Genes are related to pressure on the eyes and damage to the optic nerves.
Risk factors
Likely, glaucoma exists more in some people. These conditions that elevate the risk include:
- Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and sickle cell anemia
- Having high internal eye intraocular pressure
- Being over age 60
- Having a family history of glaucoma
- Having thin corneas
- Having nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Having had an eye injury or certain types of eye surgery
- Taking corticosteroid medications, especially eyedrops, without consultation from your doctor.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will review your medical history and do an eye examination. Tests are also conducted to know more about glaucoma, including:
- Measuring intraocular pressure using tonometry
- Looking for optic nerve damage with a dilated eye examination and imaging tests
- Visual field test to check for vision loss
- Pachymetry to measure corneal thickness
- Gonioscopy to inspecting the drainage angle
Ayurvedic treatment for glaucoma
The cause of glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure due to the accumulation of fluid. Ayurveda associated glaucoma with the imbalance of a dosha called Kapha, responsible for controlling the fluids in the body. The increased pressure due to fluid build-up may cause damage to the optic nerve, resulting in the loss of vision.
Ayurvedic herbs and therapies are incorporated in the natural treatment of glaucoma to restore normal eye function and calm Kapha’s balance. The treatment is completely taken care of at every step because the eyes are one sensitive organ. The medicines should be consumed or applied as directed by an ayurvedic doctor, and the procedures are performed by a licensed Ayurvedic physician to prevent any complications.