How to Prevent Vision Loss in Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition of the eye characterized by increased intraocular pressure. The condition may be primary or secondary. Increased intraocular pressure in an eye without previous disease is called primary glaucoma and increased intraocular pressure due to disease or injury on the eye is called secondary glaucoma. The major hurdle to the prevention of glaucoma blindness is the fact that the patient never has any symptom.

Glaucoma leads to blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Elevated intraocular pressure is a risk factor, but even patients with normal intraocular pressure may lose vision. The worldwide prevalence of glaucoma is increasing and about half of the people who have
glaucoma, don't even know it. The key to preserving vision in glaucoma is timely diagnosis and treatment through regular eye examinations. Old people with hypertension, diabetes and/or migraine and increased intraocular pressure or having family history of glaucoma are at high risk of having glaucoma.

Glaucoma patients are diagnosed and monitored on the basis of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field changes and optic nerve changes. The corneal thickness of the patient affects the intraocular pressure. The new advancement in the diagnosis of glaucoma is regarding nerve fibre layer analysis. Glaucoma could be detected at an early stage through nerve fibre layer analysis even before the onset of visual field changes. It is concluded that the key to preserving vision in glaucoma is timely diagnosis and treatment through regular eye examinations.