New Delhi: Annually, March 12 is observed as World Glaucoma Day. Glaucoma damages optic nerves thereby leading to a loss of vision. It is the second leading cause for vision loss after cataract and has become a health issue globally which is why awareness regarding glaucoma is really important.
World Glaucoma Week is also observed from March 7-13 this year 2021.
Glaucoma is a term used to describe a group of diseases of the eye, characterized by progressive and irreversible damage to the optic nerve (nerve of the eye responsible for vision) and which, if untreated, may lead to blindness. One of the important factors is an increase in pressure of the eye, but people with normal eye pressure can also develop glaucoma. According to WHO, there are several types of glaucoma, however, the two most common are, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), having a slow and insidious onset, and angle-closure glaucoma (ACG), which is less common and tends to be more acute.
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide. WHO has estimated that 4.5 million people are blind due to glaucoma. In India, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness with at least 12 million people affected and nearly 1.2 million people blind from the disease.
Glaucoma can affects people of all races and genders, but the risk increases with age. African Americans and Latinos are much more likely to get glaucoma than other races, and they tend to develop the disease earlier in life. Asian and Inuit populations are also more susceptible to a specific form of glaucoma known as angle closure glaucoma.
People with diabetes are twice as likely to get glaucoma. Other risk factors include:
Family history of glaucoma.
Farsightedness or hyperopia (for closed-angle glaucoma).
High blood pressure (hypertension).
Long-term use of corticosteroids.
Nearsightedness or myopia (for open-angle glaucoma).
Previous eye injury or surgery.
Most people develop glaucoma in both eyes, although the disease initially may be worse in one eye. With open-angle glaucoma, one eye may have moderate or severe damage, while the other eye may be mildly affected. Over time, the disease damages both eyes.
People with closed-angle glaucoma in one eye have a 40% to 80% chance of developing the same type of glaucoma in the other eye within five to 10 years.
Glaucoma can occur without any cause, but is affected by many factors. The most important of which is the intraocular eye pressure. Your eyes produce a fluid called aqueous humor that nourishes them. This liquid flows through the pupil to the front of the eye. In a healthy eye, the fluid leaves through a drainage canal located between the iris and cornea.
With glaucoma, the drainage canals become clogged with microscopic deposits. The fluid has nowhere to go, so it builds up in the eye. This excess fluid puts pressure on the eye. Eventually, this elevated eye pressure can damage the optic nerve leading to glaucoma.
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