Glaucoma is an important and quite serious common disease. It affects approximately 1.5% and 2% of the population over 40 years of age and its incidence increases as age increases. It is a disease of the optic nerve that is usually chronic, progressive and irreversible.
This disease is the second cause of blindness in this environment, but it can be avoided if you diagnose the disease over time and appropriately.
Glaucoma is characterized by a loss of the visual field, which is usually asymptomatic until advanced stages of the disease and is mostly associated with elevated eye pressure.
There are some forms of glaucoma that are acute and usually accompanied by pain and loss of vision that are less frequent and in which the pressure in the eye rises rapidly due to the anatomical confirmation of the eye (primary angle-closure glaucoma) or secondary to inflammation, trauma, or other eye disease. Visit website of kraff eye institute to know the further details in detail.
Why does glaucoma occur?
The main risk factor that contributes to the development of glaucoma is high pressure in the eye. An eye pressure below 22mmHg is considered normal, but glaucoma eyes need to have an even lower eye pressure to prevent the disease from worsening.
Eye pressure is not the only factor causing glaucoma. Other factors to take into account are genetic predisposition or vascular factors.
Which people are most at risk for glaucoma?
- People over 40 years old.
- People with elevated eye pressure.
- People with a family history of glaucoma.
- People with myopia have approximately twice the risk of developing glaucoma.
What is your treatment?
The main treatment is medical and consists of the installation of drops in the eyeball through eye drops. These eye drops contain different drugs that lower intraocular pressure. There are many types of eye drops that are effective, although they can cause slight discomfort to the eyes after their application (eye redness, foreign body sensation …) but it is very important to perform the treatment following the guidelines indicated by the ophthalmologist. If the treatment is not strictly adhered to, the evolution of the disease will be worse. Failure to apply the drops correctly poses a risk to vision.
