<p>How does one find out about a complex eye disease, which has hardly any symptoms during its early stages? Well, the answer is only through a regular visit to a doctor.</p>
<p><a href="../../glaucoma-treatment" target="_blank">Glaucoma</a>&nbsp;is such a disease where the optic nerve of the eye gradually deteriorates as a result of which blind spots develop in your field of vision.</p>
<p><strong>Unfortunately, in most cases, a patient usually comes to know about it when a lot of damage has already happened.</strong></p>
<p>At an advanced stage regrettably sight cannot be restored, however, with regular treatment, further damage can be stopped.</p>
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<h2><strong>What causes glaucoma?</strong></h2>
<p>The optic nerve of the eye gets damaged over a period of time usually related to an increase in pressure in the eye which causes Glaucoma. The increase in pressure is due to the build-up of a fluid (aqueous humor) that flows throughout the inside of our eyes. When this fluid is overproduced or is unable to sufficiently drain, eye pressure increases.</p>
<p>Glaucoma is many a time seen to run in families and in some people, scientists have identified genes related to high eye pressure and optic nerve damage.</p>
<h2><strong>Are there more than 1 type of glaucoma?</strong></h2>
<p>Glaucoma can be of the following 5 types:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Open-angle glaucoma:</strong> The most common form of the disease, where the aqueous humor fluid is unable to properly drain out of the eye, increasing pressure and gradually damaging the optic nerve.</li>
<li><strong>Angle-closure glaucoma:</strong> This occurs when the iris bulges forward to block the drainage of aqueous humor fluid, thereby increasing pressure in the eye. Though it can occur suddenly or gradually it is always a medical emergency.</li>
<li><strong>Normal-tension glaucoma:</strong> For reasons unknown, in this glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged even when the eye pressure is within the normal range. In this situation, one may have a sensitive or less blood supply to the optic nerve.</li>
<li><strong>Glaucoma in children:</strong> It is possible for infants or children to have glaucoma too. They may be born with it or it may develop within a few years due to damage to the optic nerve caused by drainage blockage or an underlying medical condition.</li>
<li><strong>Pigmentary glaucoma:</strong> In this kind of glaucoma, pigment granules from your iris blocks fluid exiting from the drainage channel in your eye.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Can glaucoma make me blind?</strong></h2>
<p>It has been seen that even with treatment,<strong> about 15% of people affected with glaucoma become blind in at least one of the eyes within 20 years of contracting the disease.</strong></p>
<p>So, <strong>neglecting it is never an option and only delays the inevitable.</strong> If you don&rsquo;t get the treatment your <strong>glaucoma will eventually make you blind.</strong></p>
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<h2><strong>What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?</strong></h2>
<p>Depending on one&rsquo;s stage and type of glaucoma a person may experience varying symptoms such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Blurriness in vision</li>
<li>Severe headaches and pain in the eye</li>
<li>Nausea and vomiting</li>
<li>Loss of vision in the fringes (peripheral) of one's sight</li>
<li>Dazzling lights appear with halos</li>
<li>Eye become red more than often</li>
<li>Patchy blind spots appear in the field of vision</li>
<li>Tunnel vision in the advanced stages</li>
</ul>
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<p><strong>Do not neglect glaucoma as it is a leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 60.</strong> Though it can occur at any age, however, is more common in older adults.</p>
<h2><strong>What are the risk factors for Glaucoma?</strong></h2>
<p>It is important to be aware of the following risk factors as chronic forms of glaucoma can eventually make you blind before apparent signs or symptoms:</p>
<ul>
<li>Having high internal eye (intraocular) pressure</li>
<li>Being over 60 years old</li>
<li>Having a family history of glaucoma</li>
<li>Suffering from certain medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sickle cell anaemia</li>
<li>Having corneas with thin centres</li>
<li>Being highly nearsighted or farsighted</li>
<li>Having had an eye injury or certain type of eye surgery</li>
<li>Regularly taking corticosteroid medications, especially eyedrops, for a long time</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>What are the preventive measures?</strong></h2>
<p>The following self-care steps will help you find out at an early stage whether you have glaucoma, which is important as it can prevent vision loss or help in slowing down the progress of the disease:</p>
<ul>
<li>Have regular dilated eye examinations, every 5 to 10 years if you are under 40, every 2 to 4 years if you are between 40 to 54, every 1 to 3 years if you are 55 to 60, and every 1 to 2 years if you are above 65 years of age.</li>
<li>Be aware of your family&rsquo;s eye health history as glaucoma tends to run in the family. This means if you are at increased risk, you may need more frequent screening.</li>
<li>You may consult an ophthalmologist to adopt a regular and moderate exercise regime for the eye, which may help prevent glaucoma by reducing the pressure in the eye.</li>
<li>Properly prescribed Glaucoma eyedrops by an ophthalmologist can notably bring down the risk factor that high eye pressure will lead to glaucoma.</li>
<li>Wear proper protective eyewear in situations where there might be a threat to accidentally damaging the eye such as while welding, using power tools or playing certain sports.</li>
</ul>