Patient Education is the CURE
This potentially blinding disease HAS NO SYMPTOMS, early detection and regular monitoring is needed to prevent visual loss. Awareness and education about this savage disease is the key in its management. We at Goyal Eye give as much emphasis on educating the patient about glaucoma as much as we give on its treatment.
How it affects our vision
Glaucoma is usually due to an imbalance between the supply of nutritious fluid into the eye and drainage of dirty fluid out of it; leading to increase in eye pressure which damages the various eye structures mainly the optic nerve which is like a wire that carries the image captured by the eye up to the brain.
Has no symptoms, and can leave you blind
Our vision has two main components: Central vision responsible for fine work and side vision for navigation. As the effect of glaucoma is painless and gradual and since Glaucoma doesn’t affect the central vision till its last stages hence it can go unnoticed until end stage disease.
Vision loss cannot be cured; but can be controlled
Any loss of visual field secondary to Glaucoma is permanent and irreversible. Reducing eye pressure by eye drops can halt the progression of vision loss. Surgery is required in refractory cases.
Glaucoma can progress despite treatment
As there are no symptoms of glaucoma, visual loss may progress if the reduction of eye pressure by treatment is insufficient. Hence all glaucoma patients need to be regularly monitored to rule out any progression.
