GLAUCOMA: WHAT IT IS
If untreated, glaucoma, an eye condition, can directly harm the eye’s optic nerve, which transmits information to the brain, impairing vision permanently. It typically runs in families and is mostly caused by an increase in ocular pressure brought on by fluid in the eye. Although both eyes are often affected, the degree of impairment might vary.
A SUMMARY OF THE HUMAN EYE
Our organ of sight is the eye. The cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, macula, optic nerve, choroid, and vitreous are only a few of its many parts.
Summary of the cornea
Cornea: This structure is mostly in charge of focussing light in our eyes. The clean front surface of the eye performs the function of a camera lens. The cornea allows for a clear view of the pupil, which is a black dot, and the colourful iris. The retina, a light-sensitive film located in the back of the eye, is essentially focused on by the cornea, which also serves as a lens for incoming light. The image created at the retina is subsequently sent to the brain.
The iris of the eye performs similar duties to a camera’s diaphragm by automatically altering the pupil size to regulate the quantity of light entering the rear of the eye.
Accommodation: The crystalline lens of the eye, which is situated immediately behind the pupil, concentrates light even further. Similar to an autofocus camera lens, this lens enables the eye to focus on nearby and approaching objects automatically.
Retina: The cornea and crystalline lens concentrate light, which is then constrained by the iris and pupil to reach the retina. The retina transforms optical pictures into electrical signals, much like a digital camera’s electronic image sensor. These impulses are subsequently sent to the visual brain through the optic nerve.
SIGNIFICANCE OF GLAUCOMA
The “silent thief” is glaucoma. It permanently harms the eye, with the only indication being a progressive darkening of vision and a weakening of vision.
GLAUCOMA:- Factors Increase the risk
The following are risk factors for glaucoma:
- Age, particularly in those over the age of 60.
- Ethnicity
- Ancestral history
- The thickness of the centre cornea is less than 0.5mm.
- Myopia is quite bad.
- Prior eye injury
- Hypertension
- Users of anabolic steroids
TREATMENT FOR GLAUCOMA
- Drops for the eyes
These aid in the reduction or channelization of aqueous medium production in the eye. As a result, it aids in maintaining appropriate eye pressure by lowering the risk of optic nerve injury. Some eye drops may have the following negative effects:
- Allergy
- Blurriness
- The appearance of redness in the eyes
- Heart and lung damage
- Laser treatment
Laser surgery aids in the evacuation of fluid from the eye, hence preserving intraocular pressure. There are several forms of laser surgery.
- Trabeculoplasty is a treatment in which the trabecular mesh is torn out to enhance outflow.
- Iridotomy- In this treatment, a tiny hole is created in the iris to allow the fluid in the eye to drain more easily.
- Cyclophotocoagulation is a laser treatment that reduces intraocular flow in the middle eye.
- Microsurgery
Trabeculotomy is a type of microsurgery used to promote drainage and lower intraocular pressure. Microsurgery complications are prevalent
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Temporary blindness
TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA IN INDIA
India offers its foreign patients high-quality medical care at an affordable price because it is one of the top medical tourism destinations. The nation is home to a large number of renowned and skilled ophthalmologists and ophthalmology hospitals with first-rate amenities, infrastructure, and cutting-edge medical technology.
The ophthalmology facilities are equipped with modern technologies like the new Keratome for Extra Thin Flap LASIK, Glaucoma Detection, glaucoma treatment and Investigation Equipment, and Oculoplastic Unit with surgical techniques for plastic surgery of the eye.