What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a silent thief of sight—one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. This progressive eye disease damages the optic nerve due to increased intraocular pressure, leading to gradual vision loss. The most alarming part? It often creeps in without noticeable symptoms until significant damage is done.

Understanding glaucoma, its causes, symptoms, and prevention methods can help safeguard your vision.

What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

Glaucoma symptoms vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. While some people may experience gradual vision changes, others may notice sudden and severe symptoms. Below are the warning signs:

1. Loss of Vision

One of the most significant indicators of glaucoma is glaucoma vision deterioration, where blind spots appear in peripheral or central vision.

2. Blurry Vision

Blurred or hazy vision is an early warning sign, especially in angle-closure glaucoma where the pressure spikes suddenly.

3. Persistent Headache

High intraocular pressure can lead to intense headaches, often accompanied by eye pain.

4. Eye Redness

Redness in the eye is another symptom of glaucoma disease, indicating increased intraocular pressure or inflammation.

5. Stomach Upset, Nausea, and Vomiting

In acute cases, sudden pressure spikes can lead to nausea and vomiting, often misattributed to other conditions.

6. Pain in the Eye

Discomfort or severe pain in the eye may indicate phacolytic glaucoma or phacomorphic glaucoma, where lens changes obstruct normal fluid drainage.

7. Early Presbyopia

Difficulty focusing on nearby objects may suggest early onset of eye disorders linked to glaucoma.

Causes of Glaucoma

Several factors contribute to glaucoma. While some are hereditary, others arise due to lifestyle and medical conditions. Glaucoma Causes Included:

1. Build-up of Aqueous Humor Inside the Eye

The eye maintains internal pressure by producing and draining aqueous humor. A blockage in this drainage system can lead to excessive pressure.

2. Genetic Reasons

Family history significantly increases the risk of developing glaucoma symptoms over time.

3. Birth Defects

Congenital defects in the eye’s drainage system can cause childhood glaucoma.

4. Blunt or Chemical Injury

Trauma or exposure to harmful chemicals can disrupt the normal flow of fluids inside the eye.

5. Acute Eye Infection

Certain infections cause inflammation and scarring, leading to glaucoma disease.

6. Blockage by Blood Vessels Inside the Eye

Poor circulation can cause vessel blockages, increasing the risk of glaucoma vision loss.

7. Inflammatory Conditions

Autoimmune diseases like uveitis can trigger secondary glaucoma.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Are you at risk? Identifying these factors can help with early detection and prevention.

1. Are You Over 60 Years of Age?

Age is a significant risk factor, as the drainage system naturally weakens over time.

2. Have High Internal Eye Pressure?

Elevated intraocular pressure is a primary contributor to glaucoma.

3. Have a Family Member Diagnosed with Glaucoma?

A strong genetic link exists, making family history a key risk factor.

4. Have Certain Medical Conditions?

Diabetes, hypertension, and anemia increase glaucoma susceptibility.

5. Have Thin Corneas?

Thin corneas lead to inaccurate pressure readings, masking high intraocular pressure.

6. Have Extreme Nearsightedness or Farsightedness?

Severe refractive errors alter the eye’s anatomy, increasing glaucoma risk.

7. Have Had Eye Injuries or Surgeries?

Trauma and surgical procedures can alter fluid dynamics inside the eye.

8. Taking Corticosteroids for a Long Time?

Prolonged steroid use can trigger secondary glaucoma.

How to Prevent Glaucoma

While glaucoma cannot be completely prevented, early detection and lifestyle changes can slow its progression.

1. Have Eye Checkups Often

Routine exams help detect glaucoma symptoms before irreversible damage occurs.

2. Be Aware of Your Family’s Medical History

If glaucoma runs in your family, regular screenings are essential.

3. Keep Fit and Eat Healthy

A diet rich in leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants promotes eye health.

4. Protect Your Eyes While Performing Tasks That Could Cause Injuries

Wearing protective eyewear during sports or hazardous activities prevents trauma-induced glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a serious but manageable condition if diagnosed early. Prioritizing regular eye exams, understanding risk factors, and taking preventive measures can help protect your sight. If you experience any glaucoma symptoms, consult an eye specialist immediately.

Glaucoma Diagnosis & Treatment

Every second individual is seeking for the best treatment for glaucoma. At Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, we provide all types of glaucoma treatment – open angle glaucoma, closed angle glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, malignant glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, and lens induced glaucoma.

You can schedule your visit for detailed diagnosis of your eye-diseases!

Glaucoma Diagnosis

If you detect any problem, we analyse your eyes’ condition while tracing back your medical history. After a thorough examination, doctors diagnose different types of glaucoma, including primary open angle glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. The tests include:

• Dilated Eye Examination - This is the foremost step performed to identify the damage to your optic nerve at the back of your eye.
• Gonioscopy - It is a painless eye examination to examine the drainage angle (where the iris and sclera meet).
• Tonometry - Doctors perform this test to measure intraocular pressure (pressure in your eyes).
• Visual Field Test (Perimetry) - This test is done to detect visual field loss.
• Pachymetry - Eye specialists execute this eye test to measure corneal thickness.

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is of different types, including congenital glaucoma, lens induced glaucoma, malignant glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, open angle glaucoma, and closed angle glaucoma. Depending on the type of glaucoma, the experts of Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital proceed with the treatment – glaucoma test, medications, or surgical treatment for glaucoma.

Here are the treatment options for glaucoma treatment:

Medications - There are multiple medications offered for alleviating glaucoma. Doctors prescribe eye drops that may decrease the amount of fluid in your eyes. Depending on the intraocular pressure you get a prescription for eye drops. Some eye drops for glaucoma include:

1(a) Prostaglandins - These medications lower intraocular pressure in your eyes, including Travatan, Xalatan, Z, Zioptan, Rescula, Lumigan, and Vyzulta eye drops. Doctors prescribe to use this once a day.

1(b) Beta Blockers - Reducing fluid production, these medications lower your eyes’ pressure. Beta blockers eye drops include Betimol, Istalol, Carteolol, and Timoptic and may be prescribed to use once or twice a day.

1(c) Alpha-Adrenergic Agonists - Medications like Iopidine, Alphagan P, Propine, and Qoliana are used to reduce fluid production in the eyes. Eye specialists may prescribe it to use it twice or thrice a day.

1(d) Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors - Lowering the production of fluid that eyes produce continuously, these medications relieve your eyes from fluid pressure. These include, Brinzolamide and Dorzolamide. Based on the condition, it is prescribed to use twice or thrice a day.

1(e) Miotics (Cholinergic Agents) - These medications reduce pupil size, allowing increased fluid outflow from the eye. Resultantly, it reduces pressure on your eyes. Echothiophate and Pilocarpine are some of its prescribed medications. You may need to use it four times a day and are prescribed rarely due to its side effects.

The eyedrops mentioned above may have side effects, so ensure to consult our eye care specialists before starting your medication routine. If the condition worsens or you observe any insignificant changes in your body, visit Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital immediately.

Oral Medications

Eye drops may not solely reduce your eye pressure, so eye specialists often treat eye glaucoma with oral medications like Acetazolamide.

Laser Treatment

Laser therapy is the most preferred and frequently used option for glaucoma treatment. Your doctor may perform the following laser for glaucoma treatment:

3 (a) Laser Trabeculoplasty

• The laser trabeculoplasty technique is usually performed for primary open angle glaucoma treatment. In this procedure, doctors use a laser to widen the drainage in your eyes, facilitating easy drainage of the fluid from the eyes.
• This glaucoma laser surgery is performed through argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) and selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). In recent years, the SLT laser has superseded the ALT laser.

3 (b) YAG Peripheral Iridotomy (YAG PI)

• Yag PI laser is done in case of angle closure glaucoma treatment. In this, eye surgeons create a hole in the iris using the laser to improve the flow of aqueous humour, lowering the eye pressure. This process is also called laser iridotomy surgery.

Surgical Treatment

• Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital has several surgical treatment options for glaucoma treatment. It is an invasive technique but may give you faster results. Let’s have a look at the following surgical methods for glaucoma treatment:

4 (a) Trabeculectomy Glaucoma Surgery

• Trabeculectomy surgery is performed when medications and laser therapy do not successfully lower intraocular pressure. Usually, eye specialists perform trab surgery for open-angle glaucoma treatment.
• Our eye surgeons carefully make an opening in anterior chamber from underneath partial thickness scleral flap under your eyelid. Through this opening, the extra fluid is drained out, reducing the pressure in your eyes.

4 (b) Drainage Tube Shunt Surgery

• This is also called glaucoma shunt surgery, baerveldt glaucoma implant, or seton glaucoma surgery. It is done for managing intraocular pressure in your eyes to treat glaucoma. In this drainage implant surgery, eye specialists implant a drainage tube inside the eye to clear out excess fluid from the eyes and reduce the pressure in the eyes.

4 (c) Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)

• After examining your eye condition, doctors may recommend undergoing minimally invasive or non penetrating glaucoma surgery to manage eye pressure. This glaucoma treatment is performed using microscopic implants, minor incisions in the eye, and precision lasers. MIGS glaucoma treatment is performed in several ways, and our eye specialists analyse the right technique for glaucoma treatment. Some MIGS techniques include:

iStent

iStent is a device made of titanium, implanted in the eye’s drainage system. It creates a bypass between the eye’s natural drainage path and the front part of the eye. This increases the liquid flow, reducing the eye pressure.

Canaloplasty

Canaloplasty is a non-penetrating glaucoma treatment generally performed for open angle glaucoma. In this surgery, a microcatheter (a small tube to pass medicines or devices) is placed in the Schlemm canal (the eye’s natural drainage site). It enlarges the drainage canal, resulting in lower pressure inside the eye.

Kahook Dual Blade Goniotomy

Eye specialists perform this surgical procedure for open angle glaucoma treatment and ocular hypertension. Specialists carefully use a micro-engineered blade for incisions in goniotomy surgery to remove the wall that blocks the drainage. Thus, it relieves the pressure in your eyes.

We at Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital provide comprehensive treatment for various eye diseases. The diseases are listed here:

Cataract

Diabetic Retinopathy

Corneal Ulcer (Keratitis)

Fungal Keratitis

Macular Hole

Retinopathy Prematurity

Retinal Detachment

Keratoconus

Macular Edema

Squint

Uveitis

Pterygium or Surfers Eye

Blepharitis

Nystagmus

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Cornea Transplantation

Behcets Disease

Computer Vision Syndrome

Hypertensive Retinopathy

Mucormycosis / Black Fungus

For various eye-related diseases, our eye treatment or surgery options include the following:

Glued IOL

PDEK

Oculoplasty

Pneumatic Retinopexy (PR)

Cornea Transplantation

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Pinhole Pupilloplasty

Paediatric Ophthalmology

Cryopexy

Refractive Surgery

Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL)

Dry Eye Treatment

Neuro Ophthalmology

Anti VEGF Agents

Retinal Laser Photocoagulation

Vitrectomy

Scleral Buckle

Laser Cataract Surgery

Lasik Surgery

Black Fungus Treatment & Diagnosis

If you observe any glaucoma symptoms in your eyes, consult our highly certified eye care professionals for effective treatment. To mitigate this eye problem and root out its causes, you can visit Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital. After thoroughly examining your eyes’ condition, we initiate treatment with the latest tech-enabled solutions. We perform surgical and non-surgical glaucoma treatment methods using advanced techniques and equipment. Our well-trained staff also provide post-surgery care to help you heal fast and effectively.

Housing a team of over 400 expert professionals, we are committed to providing the best healthcare solutions with world-class infrastructure facilities. We offer unwavering support to our patients with our individual and personalised care.

Book your appointment today to get the best treatment for glaucoma.