Introduction
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes sight loss and permanent blindness by destroying the optic nerve. The optic nerve transmits visual information to a person’s brain from the eyes to enable good vision (Gan et al. 552). When unnecessary fluid accumulates inside the eye, this increases pressure, causing the infection. Glaucoma is among the top leading source of total sight loss worldwide. Open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma are the two main types of ailment. This ailment leads to total blindness because there is no cure for the same worldwide. The sickness may be prevented or treated if noticed at an early stage. Thus, this essay will discuss glaucoma disease by examining its causes, symptoms, treatment, statistics, diagnosis, prognosis, prevention measures, complications, and protection.
Statistics
Glaucoma is the most cause of permanent vision loss worldwide that might be inherited, according to WHO. Over 60.1 million beings have glaucoma worldwide, whereby 79.6 million individuals have the sickness by 2020, but the number may increase to 111.9 million by 2040 (Schuster et al. 225). Approximately 3.1 million Americans have this syndrome, but only half are aware (Gan et al. 553). In America, above 3.1 million are affected by the disease, while 2.8 million are above 41 years old (Allison et al. 3). Open-angle glaucoma commonly affects individuals above 40 years, leading to blindness or low vision 3.3 million in this age (Gan et al. 553). In the USA, 120,001 people are blind due to glaucoma, which accounts for 9.1% -12.1% of total blindness (Allison et al. 4). People above 61 years, relatives of patients diagnosed with the ailment, diabetics, and shortsighted are at high risk of contracting the disease faster. Glaucoma costs the US government $2.87 billion in direct expenditures and productivity each year (Gan et al. 553). Thus, the US is placed among the countries with the highest number of people affected by the disorder.
Pathophysiology (Causes)
Glaucoma is a prolonged, advanced infection caused when the optic nerve is hurt, leading to sight disappearance. The impairment is caused by excessive pressure from a poor eye fluid drainage system (Allison et al. 5). The augmented compression in an eye known as intraocular damages the nerve, which directs indications to the mind. When the injury degenerates, the ailment can lead to long-lasting sight forfeiture or sightlessness within a short period. Aqueous humor, a fluid inside an eye flows outside in a canal, and when the vessel blocks or much fluid is being produced, the fluid accumulates, leading to glaucoma. This blockage can be inherited from parents to children in some circumstances. Other uncommon causes of the disorder include severe eye infection, clogged eye blood vessels, inflammatory cases, and chemical injury to the eye.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of glaucoma differ according to the type and stage of the patient’s condition. In most cases, individuals affected by open-angle glaucoma do not show symptoms, but if the signs show up, the disease usually is at the most dangerous stage (Gan et al. 554). That is the main reason glaucoma is referred to as the snitch robber of eyesight. The signs may include irregular blind acne that occurs habitually in both eyes. Angle-closure glaucoma symptoms show up faster and, more obviously, cause eye destruction rapidly. The symptoms of this type include eye pain, nausea, vomiting, unclear vision, redness and pain, severe headache, belly upset and spewing, foggy eyes, especially in infants, vision loss, and radiance around lights. People are advised to visit a doctor in case of the above symptoms. This is because elevated ventricular pressure in the affected eye might destroy the visual cortex, which conveys visuals to the human brain. Glaucoma, if left untreated, could induce severe vision problems or perhaps complete blindness after a few years. Nonetheless, the majority of patients with the aforementioned illness have no early signs or discomfort.
Diagnosis
Glaucoma checkups and results do not take a long time and are harmless. The doctors use drops to enlarge the pupil and scrutinize the patient’s eyesight. The consultants keenly check the optic nerve for any possible symptoms of glaucoma (Allison et al. 5). Different eye photographs may be taken for comparison with the next patient’s visit to see if there is any variation or signs of the disease. A tonometry test is done to check the eye pressure, and possible eye drops are given to prevent fluid accumulation, which leads to increased pressure.
The surgeons may do an optical field examination to check if the patient has lost peripheral sight, and if glaucoma is suspected, an extraordinary imaging check is recommended. During diagnosis, the physician examines the drainage angle of the meeting point between the cornea and iris and does visual field testing to see how far the patient can see (Schuster et al. 227). The specialist also does pachymetry to measure the thickness of the cornea, tests the client’s side vision, and enlarges the eye for checkups. Diagnosis helps the patient know whether there is a possibility of being affected, preventing it before damage occurs.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for glaucoma, but rapid treatment can help sluggish or halt sight loss progress. Open-angle glaucoma is mainly treated by combining eye drops, laser operation, and microsurgery, while angle-closure glaucoma is cured using the laser technique. (Schuster et al. 229). Infant glaucoma, which a person is born with, is treated by operation since the leading origin is drainage system glitches. Some treatments given to people with glaucoma include eye drops that can either reduce fluid formation in an eye or increase the outflow, hence reducing eye pressure. The drops can have side effects such as eye redness, stinging, blurred vision, and irritation. Oral medications such as beta-blocker or carbonic anhydrase inhibitors can be used to treat the infection. The drugs expand drainage or deliberate the formation of excessive liquid in the eye. Laser surgical procedure can somehow nurture the eye’s fluid movement of patients with open-angle glaucoma and stops fluid obstruction for angle-closure glaucoma patients. Microsurgery is done where the surgeon generates a new conduit to reduce the liquid and simplify eye pressure through a process called trabeculectomy.
Prognosis
Approximately 61% of patients diagnosed with glaucoma ultimately lose sight. This ailment can cause total impairment if not treated at an early stage (Gan et al. 554). About one century ago, a person who went blind due to glaucoma lost all functional vision. This sickness is becoming a worldwide disaster; on average, untreated glaucoma can take 11-15 years to move from an early and less harmful stage to the permanent blindness phase (Gan et al. 554). Research has shown that excess fat consumption destroys the optic nerve. Fried and baked foods or meals with hydrogenated oils, red meat, beef, and grease can worsen glaucoma.
Although the ailment can be treated by reducing eye pressure by using eye drops, laser, and traditional surgery, this cannot improve or restore lost vision but only reserve the remaining sight. The damage and blindness caused by glaucoma cannot be restored, although frequent checking and treatment can slow down the effect and avert loss of sight, especially when realized at early stages (Allison et al. 6). The syndrome can develop at any stage but mainly occurs in adults above 61 years. Although glaucoma cannot be permanently cured, sight forfeiture can be stopped or slowed down if the illness is diagnosed and proper treatment is done at the early stage.
Prevention
As always said, prevention is better than cure for every disease. There are different ways of preventing or slowing the advancement of glaucoma. Some of the methods include regular dilated eye checkups, which help in the early detection of the disease before severe eye damage occurs (Allison et al. 6). The American Academy of Ophthalmology endorses people under 40 to have a complete eye examination every six to eleven years (Allison et al. 7). Individuals between 41 to 55 years should be checked up every two to four years, one two three years if aged between 56 to 65 years, and one to two years if above 65 years (Allison et al. 7). People above 65 years are at a high risk of getting affected and are advised to seek eye screening more frequently.
Since glaucoma is inheritable, individuals should beware of the family’s eye health history, and if one’s relative has ever had glaucoma, this person should be screened regularly. Consistent and adequate exercising helps in preventing sickness by reducing excessive eye pressure (Gan et al. 555). Regular take of prescribed eye drops helps reduce the risk of high eye pressure becoming glaucoma. Eye drops the physician has prescribed must be used often, even if there are no signs of being operative. Individuals should wear protective eyeglasses to prevent injury by using robust tools that can cause eye damage. When the eye is protected, there will be fewer cases of glaucoma.
Complications
Most glaucoma patients experience struggling with walking, climbing stairs, and driving because their eyes are fully affected. If untreated, the ailment can cause permanent blindness, but at the same time, around 15.1% with the complaint go blind in at least one eye (Allison et al. 7). Glaucoma causes retinal complications after eye surgeries, such as choroidal detachment. Glaucoma in children causes blurred gray cornea, sensitivity to light, enlarged eyes, excessive tearing, and total loss of vision. The ailment causes diabetes, high blood pressure, long-sightedness short-sightedness, trauma, thin corneas at the center, and diminishing of the optic nerve. There are potential complications of glaucoma that are not life-threatening though this can lead to sight impairment and blindness, which reduces the quality of life. Other complications include loss of peripheral vision, blindness or changes in vision, and prolonged eye ache.
Conclusion
In conclusion, glaucoma is the second-ranked source of permanent impaired vision worldwide that is caused by excessive fluid that accumulates inside the eye, causing pressure and impairment to the optic nerve. The symptoms include eye redness and pain, severe headache, vomiting, and sight loss. Most people affected by the ailment suffer from vision deficiencies in chores like reading, difficulty in walking, climbing stairs, driving, and face recognition. The disease can be prevented by wearing eye protection equipment such as sunglasses while handling dangerous tools, taking prescribed eye drops, regular dilated eye checkups, and many others. Currently, there is no cure for glaucoma, although patients can use eye drops, oral medication, and eye surgery to treat the infection.
Works Cited
Allison, Karen et al. “Epidemiology of Glaucoma: The Past, Present, and Predictions for the Future”. Cureus, 2020, pp. 1-9. Cureus, Inc.
Gan, Kenman et al. “Telemedicine for Glaucoma: Guidelines and Recommendations”. Telemedicine and E-Health, vol 26, no. 4, 2020, pp. 551-555. Mary Ann Liebert Inc.
Schuster, Alexander K. et al. “The Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma”. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 2020, pp. 225-234. Deutscher Arzte-Verlag Gmbh.