Glaucoma is a complicated disease where damage to the optic nerve leads to gradual, irreversible vision loss. It is the second leading cause of blindness. Glaucoma can be associated with an increase in the fluid pressure (Intraocular Pressure or IOP) inside the eye and result in vision loss due to progressive damage to the optic nerve and loss of fibres.
Risk factors:
Age: People over age 60 are at increased risk
Race: Asian are more prone to develop angle-closure glaucoma
Family history of glaucoma
High myopia
Medical conditions: diabetes and hypertension
Eye injuires
Corticosteroid use: prolong use can put some individuals at risk of secondary glaucoma
In addition, individuals with high eye pressure may have a significant risk factor. Whereas individual with elevated IOP is referred to as a glaucoma suspect, as the increments in eye pressure might lead to glaucoma.
Glaucomatous vision loss is permanent, but with early detection, prompt treatment and regular monitoring, can help control glaucoma and reduce the chances of vision loss.
Everyone’s eyes are filled with fluid, known as aqueous humour. This fluid helps keep your eyeball in shape and circulates through a tiny meshwork round the edge of your iris. In some people the pressure of the fluid is raised and damages the optic nerve, which carries messages from your eye to your brain. In other people, although the pressure is not raised, there may be a weakness which causes similar nerve damage. In many people it can be a combination of nerve weakness and raised pressure which predisposes them to glaucoma.