Get to know “Glaucoma,” a serious disease that over 90% of Thais have but never realize
Believe it or not, “glaucoma” is not just a disease of the elderly. Working adults like us are also at risk of blindness from this disease. But what are the symptoms once you have it? What treatments are available? We have the answers for you.
“Glaucoma” does not mean there is a stone in the eye
Don’t misunderstand and think that glaucoma means having a stone in the eye. In fact, it is caused by high pressure inside the eye, which can be felt as an abnormal hardness of the eyeball when touched. Although this disease does not have a visible growth like other types of cataracts, it is equally severe and is one of the leading causes of blindness after cataracts. Additionally, genetic factors and other underlying diseases can also play a role, although it is more commonly found in women than men.
5 Types of Glaucoma You Need to “Know”
There are several types of glaucoma, but the five most common types are:
- Chronic open-angle glaucoma, which can be divided into two types: one caused by high intraocular pressure, accounting for up to 90% of cases, which develops gradually without a known cause; the other type has normal eye pressure but still causes progressive damage to the eye. Treatment aims to reduce the eye pressure from its current level.
- Angle-closure glaucoma Although less common, it should not be overlooked. Angle-closure glaucoma occurs due to abnormal eye structure or the use of eye drops containing atropine or antispasmodics, which dilate the pupil. Emotional states such as anger, fear, or sadness can also increase blood flow, raising eye pressure and increasing the risk of acute glaucoma within 1-2 days. Symptoms include eye pain, red eyes, blurred vision, seeing rainbow halos around lights, and some may experience nausea and vomiting.
- Secondary glaucoma caused by other complications such as cataracts, eye tumors, iritis, eye hemorrhage, or long-term use of steroid eye drops.
- Glaucoma in children Although it may seem distant for working adults like us, those planning to have children should be cautious. This type of glaucoma occurs in about 1 in 10,000 people and can be present from birth, in children under 3 years old, or older than 3 years.
- Suspected glaucoma refers to individuals who have some symptoms similar to chronic glaucoma but have not yet been diagnosed. Early diagnosis allows for more effective treatment planning.
Observe the “Symptoms” Before It’s Too Late to Treat
We can divide glaucoma symptoms into two types: acute glaucoma and chronic glaucoma. The main symptoms of acute glaucoma are eye pain, red eyes, and blurred vision. If left untreated, it can cause irreversible blindness. Once blind, severe eye pain and headaches may occur. However, it can be prevented if symptoms are recognized early by using laser treatment to create a hole in the iris. Chronic glaucoma symptoms include gradual vision loss. In the early stages, there may be no eye pain or redness, and some may experience mild headaches or faster eye fatigue when reading. Symptoms usually affect both eyes and may lead to blindness within 5-10 years, known as “silent blindness”.
Although we may not be able to prevent glaucoma 100%, having your eye pressure checked at least once a year can reduce the risk of glaucoma progressing to blindness.
