Glaucoma: Types, Age factor, eye pressure and Commonly asked questions.

This eye disease is making many people blind every year.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the disease of Optic nerve. Glaucoma damages your optic nerve causing blindness. Glaucoma is a leading cause of the blindness. The rise in fluid pressure inside of the eye leads to glaucoma. The fluid is called "Aquous humour". The problem with the outflow of Aquous humour cause the pressure inside the eye ball to rise up.The pressure inside the eye is called Intra Ocular Pressure(IOP).This start the damaging cascade to the retina (Nerve fibre layer). Finally optic nerve is damaged. The damage from glaucoma can oftenly be treated.

Types of Glaucoma:

There are two major causes of glaucoma excluding the systemic, trauma and other minor causes.

Primary open-angle glaucoma(POAG):

The drainage system of the aquous humour forms an angle like structure which determines the cause of glaucoma. This is the most common type of glaucoma.

It happens gradually, where the eye does not drain fluid as well as it should (like a clogged drain).

As a result, eye pressure builds and starts to damage the optic nerve.

This type of glaucoma is painless and causes no vision changes at first.Regular eye exams are important to find early signs of damage to their optic nerve.

Angle-closure glaucoma / Narrow-angle glaucoma(ACG)

The colorful part of eye called as "IRIS" when becomes a hurdle in the drainage, it cause "ACG". The angle becomes lesser than normal. The fluid cannot make it path out of the eyeball. The production doesn't stop while drainage is stopped.This is a emergency condition as pressure rises quickly.

How serious is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a silent killer of the eyes. It could lead to blindness in hours. If you have ACG, it is an emergency condition that needs treatment as soon as possible.

What is the average age to get glaucoma?

People over age 60 are at increased risk for this disease. African Americans, however, are at increased risk after age 40. The risk of developing glaucoma increases slightly with each year of age.

Can you go blind if you have glaucoma?

Yes, Glaucoma causes blindness. The rise in pressure inside the eyeball damage the optic nerve. The damage is irreversible. It is better to have regular eye check up. Your eye doctor can help you prevent from attacks of glaucoma.

How long does it take to go blind from glaucoma?

One of the more recent studies published in 2013 estimated that 4 in 10 patients diagnosed with open angle glaucoma (POAG) go blind in one eye, and 1 out of 6 (~16%) go blind in both eyes.

Patient with "ACG" go blind within hours if the Intra Ocular pressure is not reduced by medication.

What happens if you have glaucoma?

If you have glaucoma, You will ultimately go blind in hours if you have sudden attack of IOP rise or you could go blind without even knowing when you have POAG.

What vitamins are good for glaucoma?

Food containing Omega-3 fatty acid, Food Containing zinc, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Lutin and Zeaxanthin are the most important nutrients that are good for glaucoma.

What foods are good for glaucoma? 

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What foods to eat to lower eye pressure?

Eat foods like spinach, collard greens, kale,yellow corn, okra, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mango, green beans, sweet potatoes, lima beans, squash,green peppers, citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, strawberries,eggs, fortified cereals, fruit, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, nuts, nut oils, vegetable oils,carrots, mangoes, milk, egg yolks, oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, certain seafood, whole grains,Wild salmon, sardines, walnuts, and flaxseed oil.

What not to eat if you have glaucoma?

Foods High in Saturated Fats and Trans Fats, Caffeine, Carbohydrates, Alcoholic beverages.

Can glaucoma be reversed?

We hope one day vision restoration for glaucoma will be available. The damage to optic nerve cannot be reversed. Blindness cannot be reversed in any condition.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma in humans?

POAG is totally asymptomatic. 

In case the of ACG,Patient has some major symptoms :

• Your vision is suddenly blurry
• You have severe eye pain
• You have a headache
• You feel sick to your stomach (nausea)
• You throw up (vomit)
• You see rainbow-colored rings or halos around lights

What is the first sign of glaucoma?

Your eye doctor examines the eye and finds out the change in shape of angle.

patient with POAG has major changes in the color, shape, depth, size of the head of Optic Nerve also called as Optic disc.

Can glaucoma be caused by stress?

Stress may play a part in the precipitation of acute closed-angle glaucoma because Intraocular pressure (IOP) can be affected by the emotional state of the patient says a study journal by "US NIH".

Can glaucoma be stopped?

While there are no known ways of preventing glaucoma, blindness or significant vision loss from glaucoma can be prevented if the disease is recognized in the early stages. Glaucoma medications slow the progression of glaucoma by reducing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) to prevent damage to the optic nerve.

How do you avoid getting glaucoma?

•         Get regular eye examination.
•         Know your family's eye health history
•        Take prescribed eyedrops only
•        Wear eye protection
•         Do regular exercise
•         Avoid bad eating habits