GLAUCOMA

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a set of conditions which results in damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is located at the back of the eye and it transmits visual signals from the eye to the brain helping in visualization. Damage to the optic nerve could result in blindness. In glaucoma, the optic nerve is often damaged by an unusually high pressure exerted on it. This damage to the optic nerve could ultimately result in blindness.

Glaucoma is also said to be the leading cause of blindness in adults. In a few types of glaucoma, the patient shows undetectable to no symptoms. The impact is steady to such an extent that it would not be noticed until the condition is at a serious stage.

What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?

• Loss of vision
• Blurry vision
• Persistent headache
• Eye redness
• Stomach upset, nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the eye

Causes of Glaucoma

• Build-up of aqueous humor inside the eye
• Genetic reasons
• Birth defects
• Blunt or chemical injury
• Acute eye infection
• Blockage by blood vessels inside the eye
• Inflammatory conditions
• In rare cases, previous eye surgeries