Everything about Glaucoma and Why Seniors are Vulnerable to It
Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can lead to vision-loss and even complete blindness that is irreversible. Prevalent in seniors, glaucoma can be characterized as a condition occurring due to the abnormal high pressure inside the eye. The increased pressure is related to the damage of optic nerve tissue which causes vision loss and blindness. Early diagnosis is the key to get appropriate medical help and prevent further vision loss. However, glaucoma still goes unanswered or unattended in many societies. To strengthen the efforts towards increased awareness, the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) comes up with the Glaucoma Awareness Week- 7th-13th March 2021. Age and Glaucoma Age is one of the leading risk factors of glaucoma and many medical studies have confirmed this relationship between the optic nerve and aging. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Aging Optic nerve is a critical and complex structure in the brain that connects the brain and the eye. It is vital for sending vision signals formed by the axons of the ganglion cells of the retina. Aging is believed to contribute to the weakening of the optic nerve, making it difficult to withstand the eye pressure. Adding to that, the pathway that works as a channel for the eye fluids becomes narrow or weakened over time. As this pathway fails to discharge the fluids, the pressure in the eye begins to increase, damaging the optic nerve.
Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma and Aging Aging causes the natural eye lens to thicken that further narrow the angle of vision. These angles are already narrow and the increased thickness closes the angles completely leading to vision-loss. Laser Iridotomy is a surgical procedure conducted to treat narrow angles including chronic and acute narrow angle-closures. Seniors who have opted out for laser Iridotomy has to be monitored periodically as the lens thickens over time. Types of Glaucoma Glaucoma is a term used for a cluster of diseases. There are five major types of Glaucoma based on the causes and damage they cause to the optic nerve. 1. Open-Angle Glaucoma ● Also known as the chronic glaucoma does not show any symptoms in the early stages but only in the advanced stages. ● This is a slow but progressive condition that causes irreparable damage to the nerve. 2. Angle-Closure Glaucoma ● Also known as the acute glaucoma, this condition occurs when the aqueous humor fluid, which feeds the retina with nutrients, is blocked. ● This is an emergency situation that is caused by a sudden and rapid increase of the fluid leading to severe pain in the eyes. 3. Congenital Glaucoma ● Commonly observed in children, this is a condition caused by a defect in the angle of the eye. ● If you observe cloudy eyes, sensitivity to light, and excessive tearing in your child’s eyes, seek medical help immediately. 4. Secondary Glaucoma ● Secondary glaucoma often occurred as a result of injury or an eye condition like an eye tumor or the cataracts. ● Medicines such as corticosteroids are used to treat this condition and very rarely surgeries are required. 5. Normal Tension Glaucoma ● Normal tension glaucoma is developed even when there is no visible pressure on the eye. ● Most cases the cause of it is unknown but is linked to extreme sensitivity of the optic nerve or lack of blood supply to it.
Symptoms of Glaucoma The most common glaucoma condition is primary open-angle glaucoma and it does not show any symptoms until partial vision-loss. Acute angle-closure glaucoma has visible symptoms such as eye pain, nausea and vomiting, red eyes, visual disturbances that are sudden, seeing colored lights and aura, sudden blurred vision. Glaucoma in Seniors: Preventive Measures Glaucoma is a condition that snatches your vision without any warning signs. Seniors should be undergoing periodic medical checkups at regular intervals. If you are an older adult who is thinking if you should undergo the glaucoma test, you should go for it if you have diabetes. Glaucoma can manifest with age and it’s extremely important to stick to a healthy lifestyle that avoids blood pressure, hypertension, includes healthy diet options, regular exercises and health checkups. Share this blog to spread the word about glaucoma in seniors and follow Athulya Assisted Living blog for life-enhancing tips for the everyday life of seniors.