Definition of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is defined as an inherited disease of the optic nerves which involve the loss of retinal cells in a characteristic pattern of optic neuropathy. Intraocular is one risk associated with Glaucoma. If not treated in time Glaucoma can even lead to blindness. Glaucoma can be checked and controlled. However, the damage caused to the optic nerves as well as the subsequent losses of vision will stay permanent.
There are two types of Glaucoma:
- Chronic Glaucoma also known as open angle
- Acute Glaucoma also known as closed angle
Recent studies have proved that Glaucoma is becoming one of the main reasons of blindness. If not treated in time Glaucoma can result to permanent loss of eyesight. Glaucoma affects one in ten people over the age of eighty and one in two hundred people who are aged fifty or below fifty.
Glaucoma surgery involves either making a cut in the eye which will help in reducing the intraocular pressure or a laser treatment. Depending upon the type and severity of your glaucoma, your surgeon will recommend the right surgery for treating the same. It takes only some two-three hours for treating glaucoma.
Reasons of Glaucoma
The various reasons of Glaucoma include the following:
- One of the common reasons for Glaucoma is hereditary which means that one can inherit this disease from one’s mothers or father’s side. There is 20% chance of suffering from Glaucoma if a parent had it.
- Glaucoma can also happen without any knowledge of why it is happening. This is one complex situation when the patient doesn’t have an idea that he may suffer from Glaucoma.
- Some eye injury may also result in glaucoma in the future.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
Following are some symptoms associated with Glaucoma:
- Excessive tearing
- Sensitivity to sunlight
- Severe headache
- Difficulty of vision in darkened rooms
- Inability to focus on close work
- Abnormally large and cloudy eyes
- Unclear vision due to the clouded cataract
- Past eye injuries
Risks involved in Glaucoma surgery
Glaucoma surgery may involve the following risks:
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia
- Blurred vision
- Irritation
- A sudden and excessive drop in pressure
- Infection, bleeding, puffiness in the incision area
- Chances of getting cataract
Pre-surgery requirements of Glaucoma
The pre treatment requirements of Glaucoma include the following:
- Get a clear detail of the treatment procedures
- Avoid taking aspirin or any blood thinning medicine prior to your surgery
- Avoid smoking at least two weeks before surgery
- Don’t take alcoholic drinks few weeks before surgery
Post-surgery requirements of Glaucoma
The post treatment requirements of Glaucoma include the following:
- You will be prescribed medicine post examination of your Glaucoma treatment.
- Post-treatment medications will be prescribed
- Regular checkups would be required
- Avoid heavy exercises for few weeks post surgery
Average hospital stay for Glaucoma
Glaucoma treatment requires an average hospital stay for only one day. However, it may vary from one patient to another depending upon the condition.
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