Introduction
Glaucoma is a severe condition that permanently affects a person’s eyesight. Moreover, it can progress over time and continue affecting an individual’s vision. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause a permanent vision loss that cannot be reversed. Hence, proper diagnostics and management are crucial for preventing the adverse outcomes of glaucoma. This paper aims to describe glaucoma, its main characteristics, management, and impact on activities of daily living (ADL).
Main body
Glaucoma is a term that describes different conditions with a common feature – they affect the optic nerve. Harasymowycz et al. (2016) describe it as “an acquired, degenerative optic neuropathy,” with two main subtypes – open-angled glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma (p. 2). Etiology and condition are connected to the increase of the pressure that, over time, damages the eye nerve. This issue arises as a result of fluid build-up, which is typically flowing out of the eye and can be caused by trauma, infection, or inflammation. However, in most cases, glaucoma is inherited, and according to Harasymowycz et al. (2016), one of the primary risk factors that can lead to the development of glaucoma is increased interocular pressure. The primary danger associated with glaucoma is the fact that it causes no symptoms at the primary stage of development, making it more challenging to diagnose and treat without regular eye examinations.
This condition can progress over time, adversely affecting the eyesight of the individual. Hence, proper management and frequent surveillance from a medical professional are necessary. A person can manage glaucoma by frequently visiting an ophthalmologist, to track any changes in the eye nerve. However, Conlon, Sahed, and Ahmed (2017) and Schlenker, Trope, and Buys (2015) state that the main focus of glaucoma management is on lowering the interocular pressure, which is the leading cause of the condition. The treatment for glaucoma depends on the specific problem that caused the condition and the severity of it. In most cases, eye drops are prescribed, although surgery, including laser surgery or microsurgery, can be used. In addition, Conlon et al. (2017) state that the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s guidelines suggests targeting a 25% decrease in the interocular pressure when developing a treatment for the condition. Hence, the primary strategy to prevent further damage to the optic nerve is to reduce the primary cause of glaucoma – interocular pressure.
Understanding the impact of glaucoma on ADL is essential since the condition affects one of the primary sensory systems in a human’s body. A study of patients diagnosed with glaucoma by Park, Kho, Kim, Kim, and Lee (2015) suggests that these individuals have significantly lower scores on the ADL scales, reporting lower quality of living when compared to the healthy participants. The results of this research suggest that impaired vision has a substantial impact on a person’s daily life. Park et al. (2015) state that glaucoma usually leads to an impairment in a person’s physical and social functioning. Apart from the impairment of vision, patients with glaucoma can experience pain and discomfort, also associated with lower ADL scores.
Conclusion
In order to cope with glaucoma, it is necessary to adjust the lifestyle and incorporate healthy habits that help improve the overall well-being of the patient. For example, eating a healthy diet provides an individual with vitamins necessary for eye health, and limiting caffeine intake affects eye pressure (Conlon et al., 2017). Overall, this paper describes the main characteristics of glaucoma, etiology, management, and treatment.
References
- Conlon, R., Saheb, H., & Ahmed, I. (2017). Glaucoma treatment trends: A review. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, 52(1), 114-124. doi:10.1016/j.jcjo.2016.07.013
- Harasymowycz, P., Birt, C., Gooi, P., Heckler, L., Hutnik, C., Jinapriya, D., Shuba, D., … Day, R, (2016). Medical management of glaucoma in the 21st century from a Canadian perspective. Journal of Ophthalmology, 2016, 1-22. doi:10.1155/2016/6509809
- Park, S., Kho, Y., Kim, H., Kim, J., & Lee, E. (2015). Impact of glaucoma on quality of life and activities of daily living. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 25(1), 39-44. doi:10.1016/j.hkjot.2015.04.002
- Schlenker, M., Trope, G., & Buys, Y. (2015). Comparison of the United States and Canadian glaucoma medication costs and price change from 2006 to 2013. Journal of Ophthalmology, 2015, 1-8. doi:10.1155/2015/547960