Why The Lack Of Early Glaucoma Symptoms Makes Sight Testing Essential
The risk of developing glaucoma is very real for all of us
. In fact, the probability of developing the disease increases dramatically as we get older. Knowing that there are tried and trusted treatments provides some respite but, unfortunately, glaucoma symptoms are not obvious until the eyes themselves have already suffered some damage. Having fast, reliable and affordable treatment at our disposal is important, of course. But while eye care has progressed steadily in recent decades, ensuring that the levels of care are now the highest they have ever been, doctors still can only react to the disease rather than catch it before any damage is sustained. And this is where glaucoma differs from many of the other eye conditions, which can have visible signs under inspection. For example, macular degeneration has tell tale signs, with the early stages marked by the development of small drusens, but no real diminishing of the standard of sight is experienced until later. With diabetic retinopathy, tiny but visible haemorrhages around the eye set off a warning to have ones eye sight treated. But, while glaucoma is different, there is no reason to feel disheartened by the lack of warning symptoms. A wise individual will have regular health checks, and when it comes to the eye, visiting an eye clinic should also be a religiously adhered to. By visiting an eye clinic on a regular basis, the state of ones own eye sight, and the degree to which glaucoma has affected it, can be accurately assessed. As is the case with everything medical, the sooner a condition is caught the better, as the more effective any treatment can be. There are two forms of glaucoma, namely open angle and closed angle, which is also known as acute or narrow angle glaucoma. Neither of these forms have any discernible symptoms at their early stages, so it is not until sight begins to be directly affected, when the optic nerve suffers some damage, that the patient will know there is a problem. The difference between the two forms is the speed and manner of their development. Glaucoma, in general, is caused by an increase in the level of pressure within the eye. Open angle glaucoma, which is the most common, sees pressure created when the drainage canals in an eye become blocked, leading to a buildup of fluid. This can develop very slowly and causes gradual blurred vision, sometimes double vision. With closed angle glaucoma, which is much rarer, the cause is a blocking of the passage that links the iris and the cornea. This can occur very quickly and because of the pressure created by the buildup of fluid, can be extremely painful. In fact, the pain can be so acute that the sufferer experiences nausea, as well we double vision and redness in the eye. However, these effects are in the early stages. The advantage of having ones eyes checked regularly is that both of these conditions can then be treated early enough to prevent them progressing to their extreme forms. With more advanced cases of open angle glaucoma, for example, the effect is a narrowing of the peripheral vision, with the furthest edges darkening to black. To the patient, it seems as though they are looking through a keyhole, because they can only focus on the central subject. As this progresses, sight is eventually lost completely. Similarly, with closed angle glaucoma, vision can recede so dramatically, and so quickly, that sight can be lost in a matter of days. Such case are referred to as acute, and are considered a medical emergency, but another state, known as chronic, is almost covert in its nature and can develop much more slowly. But while
glaucoma symptoms are not discernible until some damage has been suffered, it is recommended that regular check ups be sought for people over the age of 40. This is because statistics have identified that age group as most at risk to a wide variety of conditions, including
macular degeneration, and diabetes related eye conditions, like
diabetic retinopathy. Treating glaucoma, in both its forms, as early as possible can save sight. But with little in the way of obvious symptoms, the best people to detect the hidden signs are the experts who understand eyes best.
by: Kate Dawson
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