What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases affecting the optic nerve. If not diagnosed and left untreated, most types of glaucoma progress without the person really being aware of a problem until it is too late and a substantial loss of vision has already occurred. Unfortunately, once the damage has occurred it is very rare that the sight can be salvaged.
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide. And we do not fare very well in developed countries as up to 50% of people affected are unaware that they have a problem. This may rise to 90% in underdeveloped parts of the world.
Most glaucoma is primary, a few cases are due to another problem (secondary). Some forms you are born with or occur in infancy or childhood, however most cases occur after the 4th decade and it becomes more common the older you are. It seems to affect women and men the same. It was thought to be due to raised pressure inside the eye and this is still the case in some people, but you can still get glaucoma with out an abnormally raised pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure or IOP).
Some factors will predispose you to having glaucoma, e.g. family history, high myopia (being very short sighted) and age.
The most common types of adult onset glaucoma are Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (seen mostly in people of Caucasian and African ancestry) and Angle Closure Glaucoma (seen mostly in people of Asian ancestry). The latter can be a chronic condition like Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, but sometimes presents acutely with a painful eye leading to rapid vision loss.
There is no cure as yet, but there is treatment, either medication or surgery which can halt or slow down the progression of the disease and hopefully maintain useful vision, so early detection is vital. An optician should screen for glaucoma as part of a routine eye examination.
If you suffer from glaucoma it is sensible that you inform your blood relatives of your condition so that they can have regular checks for themselves.
You are entitled to a free NHS eye test if you are aged 40 or over and you are the parent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person diagnosed with glaucoma, or you have been advised by an ophthalmologist that you are at risk of glaucoma.
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