“Primus Celebrate World Glaucoma Week 2018”
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness.
It is called "the silent killer of sight" since there are no symptoms
and once vision is lost, it's permanent. As much as half of vision can be lost
without a person noticing.
Although the most common forms primarily affect the
middle-aged and the elderly, glaucoma can affect people of all ages. The
high-risk groups include people over 60, family members of those already diagnosed,
diabetics, and people who are severely near-sighted (wearing minus glasses).
Person wearing high plus glasses are also at risk of another type of glaucoma.
Glaucoma causes fluid to build up in your eye, causing
pressure that can cause vision loss by damaging the optic nerve. This nerve
acts like an electric cable and is responsible for carrying images from the eye
to the brain. High eye pressure is associated with most chances of glaucoma but
some people with normal eye pressure can also have glaucoma.
There is yet no cure for glaucoma. However,
medication, laser or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. The
appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma among other factors. If
glaucoma is detected in its early stages, eye pressure can be controlled and
the progression of the disease can be delayed. Early detection, treatment, and
follow-up care are key to preventing vision loss and blindness.
The best and the ONLY way to protect your sight from
glaucoma are to get a comprehensive eye examination, which is different from
the basic eye exam for glasses. Then, if you have glaucoma, treatment can begin
immediately. Regular eye examinations are especially important for those at
higher risk for glaucoma, who need a comprehensive dilated eye examination
every 6 monthly to 1 year.
Thank You
Dr. Sourabh Sharma
MD (AIIMS), DNB, FICO, FRCS
Ex fellow- Singapore National Eye Centre
Consultant – Glaucoma and Cataract Services,
Primus Super Speciality Hospital
