Sunday, 8 June 2014
Glaucoma
is a severe ill state of human eye in which it experiences increased internal
pressure. The condition scientifically is known as Intraocular Pressure (IOP).
The onset of Glaucoma damages the optic nerve progressively, that may lead to
complete blindness.
Increased
intraocular pressure does not mean glaucoma. The normal pressure range for
human eye ranges between 12 to 11 mmHg. However, if the pressure increases
above 22 mmHg and the patient shows no other symptoms of glaucoma, it is most
like Ocular Hypertension. This alone is the greatest risk factor for glaucoma
but does not ensure it without other symptoms.
Glaucoma
exists in two types:
- Angle Closure
- Open Angle
The
most common type is Open angle glaucoma and it is less intense comparatively.
Both the types of Glaucoma have the same feature with a slight difference. In
Open angle, the iris narrows the ocular fluid drainage causing an increase in
the pressure where in angle closure the iris completely stops the drainage
causing a rapid increase in pressure, therefore more dangerous.
Besides
management of the IOP, there is no significant treatment other than a laser
surgery also known as “Iridotomy”.
In this there is a hole burned in the iris with the help of laser technology
that allows the fluid to flow out.
It
is more of an elderly complication and gender wise more common in women. The
complication can be successfully managed by early detection via various eye
tests such as Tonometery, Perimetery, Ophthalmoscopy, Gonioscopy and
Pachymetery.
“The Open Ophthalmology Journal” covers
information on IOP and Glaucoma. The authors have scripted extensive researches
on the topic which explains in much detail about the human eye.
