According to a study conducted by the University of Surrey, approximately 35,000 people are registered as visually impaired every year in the UK. A majority of these cases (almost 13%) occur due to the lack of treatment during the initial stages of glaucoma. Despite proactive measures promised in the UK Vision Strategy initiative launched in 2008, visual impairment continues to tarnish the health and wellbeing charts of the country. The International Glaucoma Association reveals that the UK houses more than 500,000 patients suffering from this disease. With the evolution of modern science, advanced glaucoma treatments, such as laser eye surgery, are available. What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is a type of visual impairment in which the optic nerve is damaged or blocked. In a majority of the cases, this happens due to increased pressure in the eye. The pressure increases because the fluid produced in the eye is not drained away properly, leading to excessive accumulation of fluids. At the later stages of glaucoma the pressure in the front portion of the eye increases to an extent that damages the optic nerve and the patient begins to lose vision. Some of the major symptoms of glaucoma are: â€Pain in the eyes â€Blurred vision â€Increased redness in the white areas of the eye â€Excessive watering of the eyes â€General sickness or vomiting The worst part is that glaucoma is undetectable during the initial stages. Thus, it is critical to consult a doctor for any problem related to your eyes. Types of Glaucoma There are four main types of glaucoma: â€Open angle glaucoma: This occurs when the optical drains get blocked, leading to the accumulation of fluids in the front portion of the eye. The term 'open angle' indicates that there are no physical obstructions that block the drainage. It develops very slowly and is difficult to detect in the early stages. Some of the common symptoms are degraded side vision, blurred and foggy vision and seeing a halo around bright objects. â€Acute angle glaucoma: This rare form of glaucoma occurs when the angle between the sclera and the iris narrows. The narrowing leads to the accumulation of fluids, causing vision impairment. The narrowing process occurs at a painfully fast rate and can be detected early. Its symptoms appear suddenly and include severe eye pain, headaches and profuse tearing. â€Secondary glaucoma: This could be caused by drain blockage due to an injury or other eye disease. Secondary glaucoma can be either of the open angle or acute angle variety. Common symptoms are redness in the white portion of eye, nausea with severe eye pain and visual disturbance especially in low light. â€Developmental glaucoma: This is caused by an abnormality in the eyeball present since birth. The abnormality gradually develops into visual impairment. Symptoms are present from birth; however, recognizing them is not easy due to the young age of the infant. Some common symptoms are large eyes at birth, increased sensitivity to light, cloudy appearance in the eyes and jerky movements in the eye. Glaucoma Treatment Methods There are different types of glaucoma treatments based on the form of disease and the stage of development. At an initial stage, most eye care consultants prescribe eye drops. The regular use of eye drops can curtail further blockage and help to reduce pressure. At an advanced stage, doctors would recommend laser eye surgery. In this treatment method, a laser beam is used to open the blockage in the drain. It can also be used to reduce the production of fluids in the eye to an appropriate level. The treatment used would be determined by the eye specialist depending on the severity of glaucoma as well as the general condition of the eye. Generally, cataract eye surgery is recommended for severe cases. Post treatment care is equally important to ensure that the eye drains continue to work efficiently. Immediately after the treatment, eye care specialists may recommend wearing a protective shield for a few days. One should abstain from excessive movement of the eye immediately after laser treatment. Kathryn Dawson writes articles for Immaculate about glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerves. It occurs when fluid in the eye builds up, but could also be due to other reasons such as genetic disorders. Treatment is usually in the form of prescription eye drops or oral drugs, but laser eye surgery is also known to work just as well as medicines. Another common surgical procedure for eye disease is cataract eye surgery.
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