Just a couple of months back, a statistical report showed that Glaucoma has turned out to be one of the top three causes of blindness in India. And definitely, the reasons are not because the disease is rare and has a difficult cure.

Medical experts say that it is only because people lack awareness regarding the ailment and therefore leave it untreated for long durations. People have chosen to remain ignorant about the disease and only visit doctors when medical assistance falls short to prevent blindness.

Glaucoma is definitely treatable. Ample of medications are available to combat this disease. Moreover, newer technologies are making Glaucoma Surgery extensively easy to undergo. However, early detection is crucial to have the available treatments bring about substantial cure.

Therefore, it is suggested that everyone needs to keep themselves abreast regarding this eye disorder. Only when you don’t turn a blind eye towards glaucoma, you can prevent blindness for the rest of your life.

What happens during Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a serious eye disorder affecting optic nerves that transmit images from retina to brain. So, a damage to these soft optic nerves definitely leads to vision loss.

Human eye has a small opening known as the anterior chamber. A fluid known as aqueous humor flows in and out of this chamber; keeping central lens and cornea well nourished, as they do not have their own blood supply. In addition, it also maintains the pressure required to keep eyes inflated as needed.

In glaucoma, the essential fluid does not flow properly as it should, leading to increased pressure and other difficulties. This excess pressure, damages optic nerves and may lead to blindness if not treated at early stage.

When to see a doctor?

Glaucoma does not come up with vivid symptoms and it is primarily because of this, that people tend to ignore it at early stages.

Below listed are few symptoms that require you to see a doctor immediately:

  • Severe eye pain usually involving both the eyes
  • Redness of eyes
  • Extreme and unexpected difficulty to do regular tasks in poor lighted areas
  • Hazy eyes and blurred vision
  • Tunnel vision
  • Nausea and vomiting

Who can get glaucoma?

Glaucoma is mostly an inherited disorder. If you have parents or grandparents with a history of glaucoma, you are more likely to develop the same; sooner or later.
However, there are still a couple of other factors that bring you at a high risk of suffering from this vision disorder:

  • Old age – Elderly individuals remain at a greater risk of developing glaucoma
  • Thyroid disorders and diabetes makes you increasingly susceptible to Glaucoma
  • Glaucoma can also arise due to the presence of an underlying tumor
  • Accidents leading to severe eye injuries
  • Myopic patients may show signs of glaucoma
  • Prolonged use of corticosteroids makes one more susceptible to glaucoma

Can Glaucoma be prevented?

The answer is YES. Glaucoma cure is related to reducing the pressure within the eyes. Administering eye drops or opting for Glaucoma surgery aims at reducing this intra ocular pressure. Therefore, preventing the disease needs to have a similar line of action.
Here are few ways that you can adopt to reduce eye pressure naturally and thus prevent

Glaucoma:

  • Moderate exercises can reduce intraocular pressure. However, administering correct postures; especially headstands, is important so that these don’t prove otherwise.
  • Following safety measures and wearing eye shields can help reduce chances of glaucoma extensively
  • DHA – an omega 3 fat is considered to be an enhancer of retinal functions. It is abundantly available in fish.
  • Restricted intake of trans fats is said to improve vision
  • Green leafy vegetables contain lutein that improves vision
  • Last but not the least, opting for regular eye checkups is important to remain aware about your eye health. If any minor symptoms are witnessed now, they can be easily treated with medication. Thus, you’re allowed to lead normal lives while living with this condition.

This was all about Glaucoma and what you can do to prevent it. However, if you still get diagnosed with Glaucoma, do not feel unnerved as Glaucoma can be easily treated with medicines and surgeries. Now that you are some what aware about the disease and the importance of routine check ups, rush to a doctor even when you are experiencing mild symptoms.

Author Bio:

Pousali is an M.Phil in English literature and likes to explore genres related to arts and aesthetics. She is an ardent believer of the ‘learning, unlearning and relearning’ process. i would love to write a article on all health related topics such as Diabetes, Cancer, Heart problem etc.