Glaucoma is an eye disease that robs the vision gradually. Usually, do no presents symptoms and can result in vision loss suddenly. Without proper treatment, glaucoma can lead to blindness.
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, only after the cataracts. A serious disease that causes a significant deterioration in the quality of life. It is important early diagnosis: an ophthalmological review is the best way to prevent it.
This disease damages the optic nerve of the eye. The optic nerve connects the retina and consists of many nerve fibers, like an electric cable is composed of many cables. The optic nerve sends signals from the retina to the brain, where these signals are interpreted as the images we see.
The causes of this disease are unknown, although it may affect several members of a family. So if you have a family history, it is advisable to go to the eye doctor regularly. In any case, a review at least every two years is recommended, because glaucoma detection is very simple.
A major trigger of glaucoma is high eye pressure, which is not necessarily linked to high blood pressure. You can have a stable pressure, and high eye pressure, so it is necessary to determine with an ophthalmologist what is the pressure in your eyes.
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some people are more at risk than others. These people include: African Americans over age 40, all people over 60, especially those who are of Mexican descent, people with a family history of glaucoma.
In most forms of glaucoma have no symptoms until the optic nerve damage progresses and visual field loss develops. Therefore, in many cases, the patient comes to see when a high percentage of nerve fibers of the retina has already been lost and the defect in the already advanced and irreversible visual field.
Depending on the type of glaucoma, various treatments are applied. Definitive treatment involves the use of laser, but if also require chronic administration of topical drugs.
This is a disease that initially develops silently and symptoms appear when is advanced, these vestiges in turn can mimic those of other diseases such as migraine, therein lies the importance of going to a specialist and not self-medicate.
Studies have shown that the best way to control the disease is with early detection and treatment before it causes vision loss. If you are in one of the high-risk groups, be sure that your eye doctor will make an eye exam through dilated pupils every two years.
ALFA