Your eyes work hard every day, but how often do you think about their long-term health? World Glaucoma Week serves as a crucial reminder that this silent thief of sight can creep in without warning.
Glaucoma is said to develop gradually, with many people only noticing symptoms when it’s too late. Regular eye check-ups, early detection, and simple lifestyle adjustments can make all the difference in keeping your vision clear for years to come.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that causes pressure buildup in the eyeball, damaging delicate eye parts. It is the second-leading cause of blindness worldwide, reports the clinic. Despite the fear of severe vision loss, it is stated that most forms of glaucoma are treatable, especially when diagnosed early. “Most forms of glaucoma are treatable, especially when diagnosed early. And with care and careful management, it’s possible to delay — or even prevent — permanent vision loss.”
The above clinic further mentions that glaucoma is a condition caused by damage to the optic nerve, primarily due to intraocular eye pressure. It’s mentioned that the fluid, aqueous humor, nourishes the eyes and drains through the pupil to the front of the eye.
“With glaucoma, the resistance increases in your drainage canals. The fluid has nowhere to go, so it builds up in your eye. This excess fluid puts pressure on your eye. Eventually, this elevated eye pressure can damage your optic nerve and lead to glaucoma.”
The Mayo Clinic notes that glaucoma symptoms vary based on the type and stage of the condition. Early symptoms are said to include patchy blind spots in side vision, difficulty in central vision, headaches, severe eye pain, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and eye redness. In children, the clinic mentions that symptoms include dull eyes, increased blinking, tears, blurred vision, worsening nearsightedness, and headaches.
There are two main types: open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common, and angle-closure glaucoma, more common in Asia, states WebMD. These conditions are said to cause pressure buildup in the eye and are linked to farsightedness and cataracts.
The above source further claims that other less common types include secondary glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, and pigmentary glaucoma, which occur when pigment from the iris gets into the eye’s fluid and clogs the drainage canals.
Also see: 6 tips for good eye health
