Glaucoma is a group of eye condition in which fluid pressure in the eyes rises, if left untreated can lead to blindness. Glaucoma is related to the buildup of pressure inside your eye and causes the damage to your optic nerve which transfers images to the brain. Intraocular pressure or high fluid pressure in your eye occurs when fluid present in the eyes is not able to circulate properly. The fluid, called aqueous humour is not able to flow out of your eyes, because the channel through which it flows out is blocked. People with diabetes and hyperthyroidism are at greater risk of getting Glaucoma. There are two main types of Glaucoma:

• Close angle Glaucoma or angle closure Glaucoma happens when eyes do not drain fluid properly due to the contraction in the angle between the iris and the cornea.
• Open angle Glaucoma is the most common type of eye disease and is also known as wide angle Glaucoma. Open angle Glaucoma progresses very slowly and a patient may do not feel any symptom.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

The sign and symptoms of Glaucoma depend upon its type. If you feel any of these symptoms, consult an ophthalmologist.

• Pain in the eyes
• Nausea
• Swelling of eyes
• Redness in the eyes
• Straitened vision
• Blurred vision

Treatment of Glaucoma

The treatment of Glaucoma may involve eye drops, microsurgery or laser surgery.

• Eye drops- Eye drops help in increasing the outflow of fluid from the eyes or reduce the formation of fluid in the eyes. There are many side effects related to the use of eye drops. A patient using eye drop may experience redness, stinging, irritation, even hair loss and low blood pressure.
• Microsurgery- In this procedure a new channel is created to drain the fluid out of the eye and reducing the fluid pressure in the eye. This procedure is known as trabeculectomy. This surgery can lead to temporary vision loss, causes infection and bleeding.
• Laser Surgery- Iridotomy, cyclophotocoagulation, and trabeculoplasty are the three main procedures included in the laser surgery. These procedures are focused on increasing the flow of fluid from the eye and to stop the blockage.

World Glaucoma Week 2017

Glaucoma is observed every year in the month of March. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in India. A WHO report states that 4.5 million people have become blind due to this eye disease. Glaucoma affects nearly 12 million people in India and more than 1.2 million people are blind due to this disease. World Glaucoma Week is observed year to educate and inform people about the symptoms and prevention of Glaucoma. During this week, several activities are organised around the world involving hospitals, clinics, medical colleges, individuals, and especially those who are, diagnosed with Glaucoma. People across the globe are motivated to get regular eye check up, optic nerve check pain, and are educated how can they take care of their eyes and prevent eye related disorders.