Glaucoma is a pathology that is little talked about and, on the contrary, has devastating effects on the lives of those who suffer from it.
During this month of March we celebrate #mesdelglaucoma and we want to tell you some things you should know about this silent disease.
- Glaucoma is a disease associated with high intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve and causes a gradual loss of vision.
- There are several types of glaucoma but the most widespread is open-angle glaucoma, where the eye pressure remains persistently high.
- It is called a silent disease because it shows no symptoms. When vision loss is detected, the disease is already very advanced.
- The best prevention is to have eye examinations every two years after the age of 40, and annually for those over 50.
- There is no cure for glaucoma; care can only be provided to slow the progression of the disease, but lost vision is never recovered.
- Glaucoma can cause blindness, in fact, it is the second leading cause of blindness in the world.
- Everyone can suffer from glaucoma. The risk increases with age and increases 5 if there is a family history of the disease. It is also true that the black race is 6 times more likely to suffer from glaucoma.
In short, the greatest risk of glaucoma is that it appears without you noticing it. No pain, no discomfort… That is why periodic visual examinations are so important. By means of tonometry, a very simple test, we can detect high blood pressure and by examining the back of the eye we can see if the optic nerve is still healthy.
All treatments are aimed at slowing its progression by controlling high blood pressure. It is usually treated with drops or a small intervention to improve drainage and evacuation and thus lower blood pressure.
If you are over 40 years old, or if you have a family history of glaucoma, make an appointment and do not take unnecessary risks.
A check-up is the best forecast. Make an appointment! 😊
