What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the pressure in the eye becomes elevated. This gradually damages the delicate nerves of the eye causing permanent visual loss if left untreated. In actual fact, glaucoma is a group of over 65 different diseases, each with common characteristics.
Fortunately the pressure in the eye can be measured by a simple test, and if treatment is given at an early stage the loss of vision is completely preventable. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases, it is a silent and asymptomatic disorder, slowly and gradually constricting the edges of vision. Often the patient does not realise they are losing their sight until a very late stage in the disease process, when it may be too late to treat because glaucoma is an irreversible disorder.
It is the commonest preventable cause of blindness in Western countries. So the secret to effective glaucoma management is early diagnosis and treatment.
Who is at risk?
Individuals with diabetes, or with a family history of either diabetes or glaucoma are at particular risk. Everyone over the age of 40 years should have a yearly eye pressure check to exclude the condition. The entire procedure is painless and takes only 1-2 minutes.
Diagnosis
The most advanced equipment for diagnosis of glaucoma is available at London Medical. If glaucoma is detected, patients have the option of attending an ophthalmologist of their choice or a referral to Mr Victor Chong, Mr Sheng Lim or Mr Brian Little at the Clinic.
The diagnosis of glaucoma is made on the basis of three main criteria:
1. Measurement of the intra-ocular pressure
The pressure in the eye is measured by instilling anaesthetic eyedrops then placing a delicate instrument (a tonometer) gently against the surface of the eye. This measures the pressure within the eye very accurately (to within 1 mmHg). The procedure takes less than 2 minutes and is completely painless.
2. Field of Vision
The visual field measures the peripheral vision (the edges of our sight) as this is gradually eroded by glaucoma. There are many instruments which can be used, but the Humphrey Computerised Visual Field Analyser is generally regarded to be the most accurate. The patient sits at the machine for about 20 minutes. Flashes of light appear at various times and the patient presses a button to record when they see the lights. A chart showing any areas of visual loss is printed. Once again, this is completely painless.
3. Appearance of the optic disc
The optic nerve is the nerve leaving the eye which transmits the visual image to the brain. If glaucoma damages the nerves in the eye, it causes a large space, or pit, to be created in the middle of the optic nerve. This can be observed visually by an ophthalmologist, but the most accurate method is by computerised digital image photography of the optic nerve. As with all of the other tests, this is a completely painless procedure.
Treatment
Treatment in the early stages of glaucoma is very simple and effective and consists of eyedrops put into the eyes once or twice per day. There are several different types of eyedrops, put into the eyes once or twice a day, which effectively control the pressure and prevent blindness. Laser surgery can be performed by experienced laser surgeons in many cases. Only if the condition has been not diagnosed until the late stages is operative surgery required. So the secret to effective treatment of glaucoma (and the prevention of loss of sight) is regular screening to provide early diagnosis. All of the facilities for screening and treatment of glaucoma are available at the Clinic.
Crestor cuts heart attack and stroke rates even if cholesterol is normal
A recent study called JUPITER, using the statin, r... (Click here)