Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye condition that damages the optic nerve (nerve connecting the eye to the brain), usually due to high pressure in the eye.

The increased pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) can damage the optic nerve. If the damage worsens, glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss or even total blindness within a few years.

Glaucoma - Overview

Glaucoma is a group of eye condition that damages the optic nerve (nerve connecting the eye to the brain), usually due to high pressure in the eye. The increased pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) can damage the optic nerve. If the damage worsens, glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss or even total blindness within a few years.

Glaucoma mostly affects adults over 40 years, but young, adults and even infants can suffer from this.

There are two main types of Glaucoma:

OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA:

This is the most common type of Glaucoma, also known as wide-angle Glaucoma. In this type of Glaucoma, the drain structure in an eye (the trabecular meshwork) looks fine, but fluid does not flow it should.

ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA:

This type of Glaucoma is also known as acute or chronic angle-closure or narrow-angle Glaucoma. In this type of Glaucoma, the eyes don’t drain like it should because the drain space between the iris and cornea becomes too narrow. It is also linked to farsightedness and cataracts, a clouding of the lens inside the eye.

Glaucoma - Symptoms

Most people with open-angle Glaucoma don’t have symptoms.
The main sign is usually a loss of side or peripheral vision.
Symptoms of angle-closure Glaucoma:
Seeing Halos around light
Vision loss
Redness in eye
The eye that looks hazy (particularly in infants)
Upset stomach or vomiting
Eye pain

Glaucoma - Pre-Procedure

The doctor will check or examine the optic nerve for the sign of Glaucoma.

One test name TONOMETRY will be done to check eye pressure.

One visual test will also be done to check the lost peripheral vision.

Glaucoma - During Procedure

LASER SURGERY: This procedure can be done as an outpatient. With the help of a special lens, the doctor will aim at the exact spot where the patient needs the treatment.

TRABECULACTOMY: This procedure can be done as an outpatient. In this procedure, a small cut will be there in the white part of the eye to take out some of the mesh of the tissue inside. This will help to drain extra fluid.

DRAINAGE IMPLANT SURGERY: In this procedure, a tiny tube will be placed inside the eye to drain the fluid. Minimally Invasive Implants will be used in the procedure.

ELECTROCAUTERY: In this procedure, a heating device called TRABECTOME will be used to make a tiny cut in the eye’s drainage tube. It sends heat to the mesh of tissue inside the eye. It will help to ease fluid build-up and pressure.

This procedure is not as Invasive as trabeculectomy or drainage implant surgery.

Glaucoma - Post-Procedure

After the procedure, the patient needs to take rest at least for one week.
Avoid driving, reading, bending over, or lifting anything heavy for up to 4 weeks.
Keep an eye away from the water.
The eye may be red, sore, or watery for a few days after the procedure.
Vision might be blurry for about 6 weeks after the procedure.
The contact lens may not fit until the bump or swelling goes down.