Everything You Need to Know About Glaucoma

“Glaucoma” is one of those words that you probably don’t want to hear from your optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist, as it may lead to the deteriorating or complete loss of sight. 

Even though this is a common eye condition, the thought of losing any of your vision is scary; there is good news. If glaucoma is caught early and treated, this may prevent your vision from deteriorating further. 

Let us explain what glaucoma is in more detail to remove the fear of the condition. 

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is when your optic nerve, which is at the back of your eye and takes information from your eye to the brain, is damaged. The damage to your optic nerve is usually caused by high eye pressure. Regular eye tests, including a glaucoma test, will detect glaucoma early, which is key to helping protect your vision. A glaucoma test is usually carried out as part of your eye examination with your optician, which you should have every two years. 

Types of Glaucoma

There are several types of glaucoma; these are:  

• Primary Open Angle Glaucoma – This is the most common type of glaucoma. This type of glaucoma develops slowly over time. 

• (Acute) Angle Closure Glaucoma – This type of glaucoma can develop slowly and rapidly. Although rare, this is a painful build-up of pressure in the eye due to the drainage of the eye being blocked. 

• Secondary Glaucoma – occurs after an eye injury or another eye condition. 

• Childhood/Developmental Glaucoma (Congenital Glaucoma) is a rare form of glaucoma in very young children, usually caused by an eye abnormality. 

What Causes Glaucoma?

As mentioned, the most common type of glaucoma is open angle glaucoma. As you get older, the small drainage tubes in your eyes become blocked; this, in turn, causes high eye pressure because the fluid in your eye cannot drain away properly. And this increase in pressure causes damage to the optic nerve. 

This increase in high eye pressure can be caused by many factors, including: – 

• Your age – glaucoma is more common the older you get. 

• Your ethnicity – if you are African, Caribbean or of Asian origin, you are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma. 

• Your family history – you are more prone to glaucoma if you have a parent with the condition. 

• Other eye/medical conditions – such as diabetes. 

Glaucoma Treatment

Believe it or not, glaucoma treatment can be quite simple, but this will depend on your type of glaucoma. 

Your glaucoma could be treated by: – 

• Eye Drops – these drops will reduce the pressure in your eye. 

• Laser Treatment – to help with the drainage of fluid from your eye or to reduce the production of fluid in your eyes. 

• Surgery – This would help with the drainage of fluid from your eye. 

Your Vision and Glaucoma

As glaucoma usually develops slowly over time, you probably won’t experience any symptoms to begin with, which is why your appointment with your optician is so essential, as it is at this point when glaucoma is usually picked up. 

When you have glaucoma, the first part of your vision that is affected is the edge of your vision (peripheral vision). If left untreated, your vision can deteriorate, meaning you lose more of your vision. 

You, Glaucoma and the future

Unfortunately, any damage or loss of vision you have before glaucoma is picked up by your optician or other healthcare professional is irreversible. Still, the good news is that further damage and vision loss can be prevented with early diagnosis, treatment and careful monitoring.  

The key to preventing vision loss, be that if you are more at risk of glaucoma or to prevent further vision loss, is to ensure you keep up to date with your eye examinations and treatment. 

Making that date with your optician for your eye examination, including a glaucoma test, can detect the onset of glaucoma, which as a condition with no early warning signs, makes your eye examinations super important.   

So, if you have any worries about your vision, visit an optician (or your GP) as soon as possible.