WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?

Glaucoma can cause a gradual loss of peripheral vision, also known as tunnel vision. This symptom can make it difficult to see objects on either side, above or below the central field of vision.

Glaucoma can cause blurred vision, making it difficult to read, drive or recognise faces.

People with glaucoma may see halos or rings and rainbow-coloured circles around bright lights, such as streetlights or headlights.

Some types of glaucoma can cause eye pain, which can be sharp or dull and may be accompanied by a headache (and sometimes nausea).

The eye may appear red, especially in acute angle-closure glaucoma, which can cause sudden eye pain and redness.

People with glaucoma may have difficulty adjusting to the darkness, making it challenging to navigate dimly lit areas.

People with glaucoma may experience eye fatigue, which can cause the eyes to feel tired or heavy, especially after extended periods of reading, driving, or watching television.

People with some forms of glaucoma, such as congenital glaucoma, may have changes in the colour of their eyes.

People with acute angle-closure glaucoma may experience nausea or vomiting, eye pain, redness, and blurry vision.

Glaucoma can make it difficult to distinguish between objects with similar colours or low contrast, such as dark grey on black or light grey on white.

This is the most common form. It happens when the eye’s drainage channels gradually become clogged and tends to develop slowly over many years. It’s also the type most associated with old age. It is also slightly more common in people of African-Caribbean descent.

When your eye pressure rises suddenly, this can lead to acute damage to the optic nerve. It’s much less common than primary open-angle glaucoma and tends to affect people of East Asian origin more. (Also known as closed-angle glaucoma.)

Occurs due to something else in the body or eyes, such as side-effect from certain medications, another underlying eye condition like uveitis (inflammation of the eye), or an eye injury.

This is diagnosed despite eye pressure being normal. Why it happens isn’t entirely clear, but some people’s optic nerves may be more fragile.

Also known as childhood glaucoma, is when the condition is present from birth due to an abnormality within the eye.

Prescription eye drops are often the first line of treatment for Glaucoma. These drops can help lower intraocular pressure (IOP) by reducing aqueous humour production or increasing its outflow. Several types of eye drops are available, including prostaglandin analogs, beta-blockers, alpha-adrenergic agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Eye drops are typically used once or twice a day and must be used consistently to maintain effectiveness.

In some cases, oral medications may be prescribed to help lower intraocular pressure (IOP). These medications are usually used when eye drops are ineffective or cause side effects. Common oral medications used for Glaucoma include carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and beta-blockers.

Laser trabeculoplasty can help open up the drainage system and lower intraocular pressure (IOP). This treatment is usually used when eye drops are not effective or is causing side effects. The treatment involves using a laser to make small, painless openings in the drainage system to help reduce IOP. There are two main types of laser trabeculoplasty: argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) and selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT).

Surgery is typically considered a last resort and is only used when other treatments are not effective or are causing side effects. If other treatments are ineffective, surgery may be recommended to lower IOP. There are several types of surgery for Glaucoma, including trabeculectomy, which creates a new drainage channel for aqueous humour, and tube shunt surgery, which places a small tube in the eye to help drain fluid.