Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that steals your vision gradually. It usually has no symptoms and can result in sudden loss of vision.

Without proper treatment, glaucoma can lead to blindness. The good news is that with regular ophthalmologic exams, early detection and treatment can be preserved.

source

A healthy drainage
The anterior part of the eye is filled with a clear fluid called intraocular fluid or aqueous humor that is manufactured by the ciliary body. This leaves the eye through the pupil and then be absorbed into the bloodstream through the drainage system of the eye (formed by a mesh of drainage channels that is around the outer edge of the iris). If the drainage is adequate, the eye pressure is maintained at a normal level. The production, flow and drainage of this fluid is an active and continuous process necessary for eye health.

The internal pressure of the eye (intraocular pressure or IOP) depends on the amount of fluid inside it. If the eye's drainage system is functioning correctly, the fluid will flow freely without accumulating. Likewise, the production of aqueous humor in adequate amounts maintains the health of the eye. Your IOP may vary throughout the day, but it usually stays within a range that the organ can handle.

• Eye with glaucoma.
  In most types of glaucoma, the drainage system of the eye is capped and the intraocular fluid can not drain. When it accumulates, it causes an increase in pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve, which is very sensitive, leading to loss of vision.

• The optical disk.
  You have millions of nerve fibers that go from your retina to the optic nerve, which come together in the optic disc. As the pressure of the fluid inside your eye increases, it damages these nerve fibers that are very sensitive and begin to die. When this happens, the optic disc begins to become hollow, rejecting the fibers of the optic nerve, which will take on the shape of a cup or curve. If the pressure stays too high for too long, it can damage the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision.

• there may be other causes
  It was once thought that elevated intraocular pressure was the main cause of optic nerve damage. Although it is clearly a risk factor, we now know that other factors must be involved, since people with "normal" intraocular pressure can also suffer from loss of vision by glaucoma.

Glaucoma is usually present in both eyes, but usually the intraocular pressure begins to accumulate first in only one. This damage can cause gradual changes in vision and, subsequently, loss of vision. Frequently, peripheral (lateral) vision is affected first, so initially your vision change is usually small and you do not notice it. Over time, your central (direct) vision will also begin to be lost.

Some symptoms
In the most common form of glaucoma, the accumulation of fluid pressure occurs slowly. Frequently, there are no bothersome or painful symptoms. In the less frequent varieties of glaucoma the symptoms can be more severe, and it includes the following:

• Blurry vision.
• Pain eye and head.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• The appearance of rainbow colored halos around the bright lights.
• Sudden loss of vision.

Difference of the internal fluid of the eyes to the tears.
The aqueous humor is an aqueous and transparent liquid that is produced continuously within the eye. It differs from the tears that your eye produces. Tears are produced by glands that are outside the eye and moisten the outer surface of the eyeball.

When to worry.
Glaucoma can affect people of all ages, from babies to older adults. Although we are all at risk, people at increased risk for glaucoma are those over 60, relatives of people with glaucoma, diabetics, those who use steroids for a long time and people with high intraocular pressure (hypertensive eye).

Glaucoma is not developed by reading a lot, reading in low light, by diet, by wearing contact lenses, or by other everyday activities, it is not contagious or life threatening and rarely causes blindness if caught early and treated. correctly.

Recommendations.
Doctors recommend that the glaucoma patch be part of routine eye exams in children, adolescents, and adults.

All people should have comprehensive screenings for glaucoma screening around age 40, then every two or four years. If you have a higher risk of developing the disease, you should have the test every one or two years starting at age 35.

People with higher risk of developing glaucoma, people older than 60 years, it is recommended that you take an ocular examination with the pupil dilated every one or two years.

The loss of vision caused by glaucoma is irreversible, but if it is detected early and treatment is followed with care and perseverance, vision can be preserved. Usually, glaucoma can be controlled with medication or surgery. If you are diagnosed with this disease, it is important that you follow a treatment plan without failures.

Who is prone to have glaucoma?
All, but the people with greater risk of developing it are the following:

• Older than 60 years, the relatives of people with glaucoma, myopic
  With diabetes those who use steroids for a long time.

While some populations are more susceptible to glaucoma, many people in the world are at risk. Seek help early if you think you have any symptoms!