Glaucoma Treatment in Bangalore

Glaucoma is a condition that afflicts the optic nerve. The optic nerve transmits signals from your retina to the brain. Eyes need to maintain a healthy level of internal pressure. For optimal intraocular pressure, eyes produce new fluid and an equal amount of fluid flows out.

Too much fluid in the eyes causes glaucoma, which leads to high intraocular pressure due to which even the optic nerve may get damaged. Optic nerve damage can lead to impaired vision or permanent blindness. There is no cure for glaucoma, but early diagnosis and timely treatment can ease the symptoms and preserve vision.

This is the most prevalent type of glaucoma. The drainage canals gradually get clogged with fluid, which increases the pressure around the eyes. The high pressure can damage the optic nerve.

In this condition, the intraocular pressure rises suddenly due to clogged drainage canals. Though this is a less common type of glaucoma, it has a faster effect on the optic nerve.

This is a rarer form on glaucoma where the intraocular pressure is within the normal range, but your optic nerve still gets damaged.

This form of glaucoma results from other eye disease or injuries, which damage the optic nerve

Patients may not notice any symptoms in the initial stages. Progression of the condition can lead to loss of peripheral vision, tunnel vision and seeing blank spots. Untreated glaucoma can cause eventual blindness. Since there are no symptoms in the early stages, regular screenings become important. An ophthalmologist can diagnose and treat open-angle glaucoma before it leads to vision loss.

This is a medical emergency. Consult an eye specialist immediately if a patient experiences the following symptoms:

• Eye pain.
• Headache.
• Redness in the eyes.
• Sudden visual disturbances.
• Halos or rainbows around lights.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Seeing rainbows or halos around lights

People who have normal-tension glaucoma or secondary glaucoma can experience any of the above symptoms. If you have any problems with your vision, consult an eye specialist immediately.

Your ophthalmologist will give your eyes a comprehensive examination, central to which is the eye pressure test. The eye specialist may also detect normal-tension glaucoma even if your intraocular pressure is within the healthy range.

If glaucoma is diagnosed, the doctor then looks into the angle of the fluid drainage to determine the type of glaucoma you have. With the aid of a special instrument, the doctor next tests your optic nerve to assess the damage. The specialist will also conduct visual acuity and field tests to determine the extent to which your vision has been affected by glaucoma.

As stated above, there is no cure for glaucoma, but timely intervention can help preserve your vision. Treatments can vary from simple medications to surgery. The ophthalmologist can select the best course of treatment based on the individual conditions in your case.

Medicinal eye drops can contain many symptoms of glaucoma. Medication controls the disease by slowing the production of fluid to maintain healthy intraocular pressure. Some medicines also smoothen the flow of fluid within the drainage canal. Proper medication can go a long way in controlling the symptoms and preserving your vision.

If the symptoms cannot be controlled by medications, the doctor may recommend surgery. Laser eye surgery is less invasive and is the most popular treatment for glaucoma. There are a variety of procedures used by ophthalmologists to drain fluid from the eye and reduce intraocular pressure.

Treatment of glaucoma can take various forms. Your ophthalmologist can work with you to decrease risks and side effects and increase the benefits of treatment and help you with optimal preservation of your vision.