Glaucoma (glaucoma) is a dangerous disease that can cause blindness, second only to cataracts. The goal of treatment can only be to dilate eye pressure or slow down the process of vision deterioration. To prevent and detect this dangerous disease, you need to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatment in the article below.
What disease is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is also known by other names, such as cataracts, glaucoma, or glaucoma. Inside the eye, there is aqueous humor and optic nerves that have the function of transmitting images to the brain. When aqueous humor is not secreted properly, it will accumulate in the eye. As the amount of aqueous humor increases, the pressure in the eye increases. Long periods of time will affect the optic nerves, causing visual impairment or permanent vision loss.
There are four common types of glaucoma: open-angle glaucoma, closed-angle glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma.
Who is at risk of glaucoma?
Anyone can get glaucoma. However, there are some cases that are more susceptible to this disease:
Relatives have had glaucoma.
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Using steroid drugs to treat other diseases such as arthritis,...
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Symptoms of glaucoma
Glaucoma can exist without any symptoms, or the signs are different for each person, such as eye allergies, sudden eye pain, nausea,... As for children with congenital diseases, then a hazy layer appears, along with red eyes and being more sensitive to light.
Therefore, it is very important to have regular eye exams so that the condition can be detected.
Can glaucoma be cured?
Glaucoma is incurable and does not recover on its own. If detected early and treated properly, vision damage can be prevented or delayed. The goal of treatment is to reduce eye pressure to prevent vision loss.
Currently, many of the most effective methods of reducing eye pressure include oral medications, eye drops, laser treatment, eye surgery, or a combination of these measures, depending on the severity of the disease and the patient's health condition. . Mainly to improve the drainage process of aqueous humor in the eye.
Important things about glaucoma that you should know 2 Glaucoma can be treated to reduce eye pressure or limit rapid vision loss.
Glaucoma treatment methods
The goal of treatment is to improve glaucoma to prevent future nerve damage or vision loss. Depending on each person's condition, treatment may include follow-up care, medication, or surgery.
Use eye drops.
Eye drops are a commonly used method of reducing pressure in the eye. Sometimes it is necessary to combine two or more drugs to achieve the desired treatment goal. Drops are used to reduce pressure in the eye by helping the aqueous humor in the eye drain better or by balancing the amount of fluid the eye produces.
Eye drops to treat glaucoma are classified according to ingredients such as: prostaglandin analogues, beta blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, etc. In addition, there are combination drugs for patients who need to use multiple drugs. medicine.
Important things about glaucoma that you should know 3 Treating glaucoma with eye drops is a common method.
Use oral medications for treatment.
If treatment with eye drops is not as effective as expected, your doctor may also prescribe oral medication. Usually a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. However, the drug has many side effects, such as fatigue, kidney stones, coma, weight loss, etc.
Perform surgery
Surgery and lasers are not commonly used to treat glaucoma. However, in cases where intraocular pressure cannot be controlled with medication, this method must be used. Your doctor will advise you about the pros and cons of each treatment method before you make a decision.
Checking daily
During treatment, it should be closely monitored. Depending on the level of control and optic nerve damage, your doctor will require regular follow-up examinations. The follow-up schedule can be every 2 weeks or every 3–6 months, depending on the severity of your disease.