Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can lead to damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries information from your eye to your brain. This damage can cause vision loss, and if left untreated, can lead to blindness. The most common form of glaucoma is known as open-angle glaucoma. This occurs when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged. This causes a build-up of pressure inside your eye, which can damage your optic nerve.There are various treatment options from medication to drainage valves.
Risk factors for glaucoma include:
Increased age, a family history, high intraocular pressure, medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Also People of African or Hispanic descent are also at a higher risk of developing the condition.
Symptoms of glaucoma can include loss of peripheral vision, the appearance of halos around lights, and eye pain. In the early stages of the condition, there may be no symptoms, which is why regular eye exams are important for catching the condition early.
There is no cure for glaucoma. But treatment can help slow the progression of the disease and prevent further vision loss.
Treatment options include: medications to lower the pressure inside the eye, laser therapy, and surgery. In some cases, a combination of treatments may be used.
Early detection
Regular eye exams are important for early detection of glaucoma, especially if you are at a higher risk of the disease.
If you have a family history of glaucoma.
You are over the age of 60.
You have other risk factors.
It’s important to have an eye exam at least every 2 years.
It is important that you maintain and regularly check your eye pressure and do what is needed as guided by your ophthalmologist.
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)
Primary open-angle glaucoma is a type of glaucoma. This condition affects the eye and can lead to vision loss and blindness. It is called “open-angle” because the angle between your iris and your cornea, which is where fluid drains out of your eye, is open and not blocked. POAG is called “primary” because it is not caused by another condition or disease.
In POAG, your eye’s drainage system becomes less effective over time, causing an increase in the pressure inside of your eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP). This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries visual information from the eye to the brain. If left untreated, POAG can cause gradual vision loss, starting with peripheral vision and eventually progressing to central vision.
POAG is typically a slowly progressive disease and is often called “the silent thief of sight” because it can cause vision loss without any symptoms in the early stages. In fact, 90% of patients aren’t even aware that they have Glaucoma. However, as the disease progresses, you may start to notice that their vision is blurry or that colors appear faded.
Risk factors for POAG include:
Your age (it is more common in older adults), a family history of the disease, certain medical conditions such as hypertension, and certain medications such as corticosteroids.
Treatment options for POAG include:
medications such as Glaucoma eye drops or oral medications that help to lower the pressure inside your eye, laser surgery, and traditional surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to slow the progression of the disease and prevent severe vision loss.
It’s always a good idea to have a regular eye check-up even if you have no symptoms to check the pressure in your eyes, with that you can detect it in the early stages and treat it before it causes serious damage.
Drainage treatments for glaucoma
This form of treatment aims to improve the outflow of fluid from the eye in order to lower intraocular pressure (IOP). There are several types of drainage treatments available, each with its own benefits and risks.
One type of drainage treatment is called a trabeculectomy, which is a surgical procedure that creates a new channel for the fluid to drain out of the eye. This can be done using a laser or a small incision in the eye. Trabeculectomy is considered as the gold standard of surgery for glaucoma and it’s been used for many years. This type of surgery is often used when medications and laser therapy are not enough to control the IOP or in advanced cases of glaucoma
Another type of drainage treatment is called a glaucoma drainage device (GDD) surgery, this procedure involves implanting a small device (often called a shunt) into the eye to help drain the fluid away. The shunt is usually made of a tube that connects the eye to a small reservoir under the conjunctiva.
Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
A relatively new procedure is the use of micro-stent that is inserted into your eye and positioned in the drainage angle, this procedure is done with a cataract surgery and its called combined cataract and Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) which has been shown to be effective in many patients with mild to moderate glaucoma.
It’s important to note that, as with any surgery, these procedures carry some risks such as bleeding, infection, or complications with healing. Additionally, the success rate varies between patients and the patients with more advanced glaucoma have lower success rate.
Another option for valve-based GDD is the Baerveldt Glaucoma Implant. A larger tube designed to be placed beneath the conjunctiva, but it has a broader opening that allows a higher flow of fluid through the tube, this implant is often recommended for cases of advanced glaucoma.
When is a GDD considered as a treatment option?
Valve-based GDDs are typically used in cases where other treatments, such as medication or laser therapy, have not been successful. Or in patients with advanced glaucoma.
It’s important to discuss with your eye doctor the options available for you and the best option for you after considering factors such as your overall health, the stage of your glaucoma, and your personal preferences, also the long-term outcomes of these procedures will vary among patients. The implant will need to be monitored closely over time, with regular check-ups with the ophthalmologist.
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