The World health organization (WHO) has stated glaucoma as the second leading cause of blindness. They further comment that the condition has become a significant health challenge as the vision distortions or blindness cannot be reversed. This article will look further into the types of glaucoma along with the treatment and medications.
About Glaucoma
A glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the eye’s optic nerve due to high intraocular pressure. Generally, it does not show early indications, and people notice a change in vision until it has come to an advanced level.
If diagnosed early, glaucoma can be slowed and prevented. People with glaucoma need to have regular eye exams and take treatments for the rest of their life.
Types Of Glaucoma
1. Open-angle glaucoma
This is the most common type of glaucoma condition. A person who experiences the disease can get blind spots in central or peripheral vision. Here the trabecular meshwork or the drain structure of your eye gets partially blocked. Due to this, the pressure inside the eyes increases, damaging the optic nerve.
The following treatment methods are used to control open-angle glaucoma conditions.
- Eye drops
- Laser trabeculoplasty
- Surgery
2. Angle-closure glaucoma
This is a condition where the iris (colored part of your eye) bulges forward. The change can narrow or block the drainage angle of the eye formed by the iris and cornea. Thus, the fluid inside the eye cannot circulate appropriately, and the pressure starts to increase.
Angle-closure glaucoma can happen in two different ways. When the condition occurs suddenly, acute angle glaucoma occurs. This is a medical emergency, and a quick visit to the eye clinic is required to prevent complete blindness. When this happens gradually, a state called chronic angle-closure glaucoma takes place.
Eye drops to narrow the pupil, medications to lower the amount of eye fluid are initially performed to decrease the sudden increased intraocular pressure. An eye specialist may use laser treatment to make a small hole in the iris. Laser iridoplasty, also known as gonioplasty is another method used to treat the condition.
3. Normal-tension glaucoma
This is a state where your optic nerve gets damaged even while having normal eye pressure. An exact reason for the occurrence has not to be found yet. However, specialists believe this can be due to sensitive optic nerves or less blood supplication to the structure. The said conditions can result in impaired circulations or fatty buildups in arteries that supply blood.
Since there is no exact reason behind the cause of normal-tension glaucoma, eye specialists usually prescribe similar eye drops and medications to lower the intraocular pressure. Conventional laser treatment and surgeries are also performed, depending on the eye condition.
It is essential to visit an eye clinic and obtain continuous glaucoma treatments to prevent further vision loss and blindness. Regular checkups will help monitor your eyes’ existing condition and keep the eye pressure under the normal range. Visit Spanish Eye Clinic for reliable treatments for your glaucoma state. Our skilled professionals will provide you with the best treatment options and help control the existing conditions without worsening the situation. Contact us now or visit us for your next eye appointment.
