Glaucoma
More than a million Colombians suffer from Glaucoma and nearly 80% doesn’t know about it. Prevention is key to avoid this silent disease.
What is Glaucoma?
It is the damage of the optic nerve due to different factors that increase the pressure in your eye. Generally this illness doesn’t show symptoms in early stages, and it represents one of the most common causes of blindness in people over 60 years old.
The best way to prevent it is to visit your ophthalmologist!
How is it diagnosed?
Glaucoma can be diagnosed in an appointment with your ophthalmologist during a routine checkup. It may be a disease that doesn’t show symptoms, you must visit your doctor if you show any of these symptoms: intense ocular pain that causes vomit or nausea, seeing halos around lights, blurry vision, redness in your eyes, irregular blind spots in you lateral vision (peripheral) or central vision and tunnel vision.
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Types of glaucoma
Open Angle
It occurs when the fluid in the eye does not flow well through its drainage channels and creates pressure in the eye. They can go months or years without symptoms.
Congenital
Increased pressure in the eye due to the increase in its size. It presents between birth and 3 years.
Angle-Closure glaucoma
This is a medical emergency. Rapid increase in eye pressure that can cause vision loss.
Steroid-Induced glaucoma
Steroids can induce an increase in eye pressure and cause glaucoma.
Risk Factors
- Have high internal ocular pressure (intraocular pressure)
- Being over 60 years old
- Being African – American, Asian, or Hispanic
- Having a family background of glaucoma
- Having the following medical conditions: diabetes, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia or any cardiac illness.
- Having a thin center cornea.
- Suffering from extreme myopia or hypermetropia.
- Have gone through certain types of ocular surgery or eye trauma.
- Taking corticosteroids, specially eye drops, during a long period of time.
Yes. In its early stages Glaucoma may be asymptomatic. For that reason it’s vital to schedule routine checkups if you are 45 years or older.
A balanced day to day life is key for preventing Glaucoma. Things like having an exercise routine and a diet rich in vegetables will make the probability of suffering from Glaucoma even smaller.
This depends on the stage your Glaucoma is at. Treatments vary from eyedrops, oral medication or surgery. Additionally regular visits to your ophthalmologist will help take care of your vision.
There are several types of surgeries to treat Glaucoma. Some are: laser therapy, filtration surgeries, drainage tubes, among others. All of these procedures are done by trained specialists and require postoperative care
We know Glaucoma is caused by trauma in the optic nerve due to the increased optic pressure in your eye, but there is no clear explanation as to why this pressure increases.
Our specialists in Glaucoma
María Fernanda Neira Vargas
Glaucoma
Ana Luisa Giraldo
Glaucoma
Erika Vallejo Mesa
Glaucoma
