In every person’s eye, we have a flow of intraocular fluid. This fluid maintains the shape of the eye and provides nutrition to the ocular structures.
The constant flow of intraocular fluid is a delicate process. The intraocular fluid will circulate then drain from the eye through a kind of sieve into the bloodstream. If the sieve becomes damaged the fluid becomes trapped and is unable to drain properly. This causes a build-up of pressure upon the eye’s nerves. The added pressure damages the nerves and causes eyesight to degenerate. Raised intraocular pressure that results in damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision is referred to as glaucoma.
Glaucoma is often hard to detect because it affects the eye gradually. The early stages tend to not present many symptoms. Eventually a patient with glaucoma may notice symptoms such as:
In more severe cases:
Generally glaucoma is caused by one or more of the following:
A patient with diabetes is almost twice as likely to develop glaucoma in comparison to other adults.
Early diagnosis is essential. Ophthalmologist Dr Peter Martin recommends that patients organise regular appointments with an ophthalmologist every 2 years (particularly if the patient is over 50) unless advised otherwise, to monitor your eye health. Early diagnosis reduces the risk of damage and permits the use of drops or laser therapy to reduce the long term damage to the nerve.
There is no certain cure for glaucoma however control is essential in order to limit the effects of the disease on vision. Most commonly glaucoma is treated with eye drops to lower the intraocular pressure. Tablets and laser treatments are also options for control of glaucoma.
If you have glaucoma, it is essential that you follow your doctor’s instructions strictly. A recent study showed a moderate percentage of patients did not regularly refill their eye drop prescriptions. Your eyesight will only deteriorate further if you don’t use your eye drops as directed and get fresh prescriptions when required.
During your appointments with Dr Peter Martin, he will assess your overall eye health. It is important to see an Ophthalmologist because you won’t always feel pain or notice symptoms when something is wrong with your eyes. The following are some of the things that you will be assessed and tested for during your appointment:
Testing for: