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Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a common eye disorder caused by increased fluid pressure within the eyeball. This high pressure can damage the delicate blood vessels and nerve fibres in the eye. The pressure in this watery fluid builds up because the drainage system gets blocked. Glaucoma, which runs in families, is the second commonest cause of blindness in Australia.

What are the two types of glaucoma?

1. Acute glaucoma: This develops suddenly and painfully.
2. Chronic glaucoma: This is the common type, which develops slowly and may not be noticed by the patient.

What are the symptoms?

• Acute glaucoma
• Blurred or foggy vision, rainbow halos around lights, pain (may be severe) in the eye, nausea and vomiting, a red eye.

Chronic glaucoma

Loss of side vision at first, gradually increasing to partial or total blindness.

How common is it and who gets it?

Anyone at any age can get glaucoma, but the older you are the more likely you are to get it. Most people are over 40 years when it comes on. Those over 65 are at greater risk, with 1 person in 20 being affected and 1 in 10 at 75 years.

What are the risks?

Blindness is the end result without treatment. If detected early, it can be cured.

How is it diagnosed?

It is detected by routine examination of the eye and by a special instrument being placed on the surface of the eye to measure the pressure of the fluid in the eyeball. It is a simple and painless test that is usually done as a routine screening test by doctor especially eye specialists.

How can it be picked up early?

Visit your doctor when you suspect eye trouble such as:

• frequent changes of glasses that are unhelpful
• blurred or fogged vision
• loss of side vision
• recurrent pain
• inability to adjust eyes to a darkened room
• coloured halos around lights

Have regular eye examinations (e.g. everyone over 35 should have routine tests and in particular those over 60 should have glaucoma tests every 2 years). If you have a close relative with glaucoma, you should have yearly inspections.

What is the treatment?

Special eye drops are usually used to treat glaucoma. Oral medications, laser treatments and sometimes surgery is used also. The eye drops are instilled 2 times a day and will have to be taken for life.

Remember

• Glaucoma is common.
• It causes blindness.
• It can be treated successfully.
• It may be symptomless at first.
• Always have unusual eye problems checked.
  
  

  Copyright 1995: John Murtagh, Professor of General Practice
  Monash University, Melbourne, Australia