What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damages your eye’s optic nerve which connects the eye to the brain. This is usually due to fluid building in front part of the eye and damaging your optic nerve.
The symptoms can start so slowly in the peripheral field of vision that you may not notice them and is often called as a “silent thief of sight”! It is also known by various local names in India like “kala-motiya/kanchbindu/kala- paani/jhamar”.
Most important thing to remember is there is no cure for glaucoma, but early detection can delay the progression and protect your vision.

About Glaucoma Eye Surgery

What are the types of Glaucoma?

1. Open-angle glaucoma: This is the most common type of glaucoma. It happens gradually, where the eye does not drain fluid as well as it should (like a clogged drain). As a result, eye pressure builds and starts to damage the optic nerve. This type of glaucoma is painless and causes no vision changes at first. Some people can have optic nerves that are sensitive to normal eye pressure.
This means their risk of getting glaucoma is higher than normal. Regular eye exams are important to find early signs of damage to their optic nerve. Symptoms-
No symptoms in early stages
Gradually, patchy blind spots in your side vision. Side vision also is known as peripheral vision
In later stages, difficulty seeing things in your central vision

2. Angle-closure glaucoma (also called “closed-angle glaucoma” or “narrow-angle glaucoma”):This type happens when someone’s iris is very close to the drainage angle in their eye. The iris can end up blocking the drainage angle. You can think of it like a piece of paper sliding over a sink drain. When the drainage angle gets completely blocked, eye pressure rises very quickly. This is called an acute attack. It is a true eye emergency, and you should call your ophthalmologist right away or you might go blind. Symptoms -
Severe headache
Severe eye pain
Nausea or vomiting
Blurred vision
Halos or colored rings around lights
Eye redness

3. Normal Tension Glaucoma:People with "normal tension glaucoma" have eye pressure that is within normal ranges, but show signs of glaucoma, such as blind spots in their field of vision and optic nerve damage.

What causes glaucoma?

Glaucoma can occur without any cause, but many factors can affect it. The most important of these factors is intraocular eye pressure. Your eyes produce a fluid called aqueous humor that nourishes them. This liquid flows through your pupil to the front of your eye. In a healthy eye, the fluid leaves through the drainage canals located between your iris and cornea. With glaucoma, the resistance increases in your drainage canals which might be inherited from your parents. The fluid has nowhere to go, so it builds up in your eye. This excess fluid puts pressure on your eye. Eventually, this elevated eye pressure can damage your optic nerve and lead to glaucoma.

Signs & Symptoms

Severe headache

Severe eye pain

Nausea or vomiting

Blurred vision

Halos or colored rings around lights

Eye redness

difficulty seeing things in your central vision

Risk Factors

Age above 40 years

Family history of glaucoma

African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage

Elevated eye pressure

Farsighted or nearsighted vision

Prior eye injury

Prolonged use of steroid medications

Thin corneas at the centre

Optic nerve thinning

Concurrent health conditions like diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation, or systemic issues affect the whole body.

FAQ

1- What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting visual signals from the eye to the brain. It is often caused by increased pressure in the eye and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.

2- What are the risk factors for glaucoma?

The risk factors for glaucoma include age (being over 50 years old), family history of glaucoma, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), near-sightedness, previous eye injuries or surgeries, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases.

3- What are the common symptoms of glaucoma?

In the early stages, glaucoma may not have any symptoms. One of the earliest indicators is frequent change of glasses. As the condition progresses, it may cause symptoms such as loss of peripheral field of vision, frontal headache, blurred vision, colored halos around lights and pain or redness in the eyes. Regular comprehensive eye examinations, including measurement of eye pressure, are essential for early detection of glaucoma especially in cases with a strong family history of glaucoma..

4- How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Glaucoma is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination that includes measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) by contact tonometry method, examining the optic nerve head and assessing the visual field. Additional tests, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and gonioscopy, may also be performed to determine the type and severity of glaucoma.

5- What are the treatment options for glaucoma?

The treatment options for glaucoma depend on the type and severity of the condition. The majority of patients are managed medically by lifelong eye drop therapy. The eye drops work in glaucoma by reducing the intraocular pressure. The other treatment options are oral medications, laser therapy, and surgery.

Expert Eye Specialist Glaucoma Treatment and Surgery in Mumbai

Can Glaucoma Be Stopped?

Glaucoma damage is permanent—it cannot be reversed. But medicine
and surgery help to stop further damage. To treat glaucoma, your
ophthalmologist may use one or more of the following treatments.
A) Medication
Glaucoma is usually controlled with eyedrop medicine. Used every day,
these eye drops lower eye pressure. Some do this by reducing the amount of
aqueous fluid the eye makes. Others reduce pressure by helping fluid flow
better through the drainage angle.
Never change or stop taking your glaucoma medications without talking to
your ophthalmologist.
B) Laser surgery

Trabeculoplasty. This surgery is for people who have open-angle
glaucoma and can be used instead of or in addition to medications.
The eye surgeon uses a laser to make the drainage angle work
better.
Iridotomy. This is for people who have angle-closure glaucoma.
The ophthalmologist uses a laser to create a tiny hole in the iris.
This hole helps fluid flow to the drainage angle.

C) Surgery

Trabeculectomy – This is where your eye surgeon creates a tiny flap
in the sclera. They will also create a bubble (like a pocket) in the
conjunctiva called a filtration bleb. It is usually hidden under the
upper eyelid and cannot be seen. Aqueous humor will be able to drain
out of the eye through the flap and into the bleb. In the bleb, the fluid
is absorbed by tissue around your eye, lowering eye pressure.
Glaucoma drainage devices – Your ophthalmologist may implant a
tiny drainage tube in your eye. The implant sends the fluid to a
collection area (called a reservoir). Your eye surgeon creates this
reservoir beneath the conjunctiva. The fluid is then absorbed into
nearby blood vessels.
Cataract surgery – For some people with narrow angles, removing
the eye’s natural lens can lower eye pressure. With narrow angles the
iris and the cornea are too close together. This can cover (block) the
eye’s drainage channel. Removing the eye’s lens with cataract surgery
creates more space for fluid to leave the eye. This can lower eye
pressure.

Your Role in Glaucoma Treatment – Only ‘YOU’ can save your vision !

Treating glaucoma successfully is a team effort between you and your
doctor. Your ophthalmologist will prescribe your glaucoma treatment. It is up to
you to follow your doctor’s instructions and use your eye drops.
Once you are taking medications for glaucoma, your ophthalmologist will
want to see you regularly. You can expect to visit your ophthalmologist about
every 3–6 months. However, this can vary depending on your treatment needs.
If you have any questions about your eyes or your treatment, talk to your
ophthalmologist.

Testimonials from our patients

We understand that clear and enhanced vision is a precious gift that transforms lives. With each individual and family, we’ve had the privilege to serve, our commitment to exceptional eye care has yielded more than just healthier eyes! We proudly share the heartfelt experiences of our patients, who have entrusted us with the chance to serve them, enhancing their life experiences.

Pradeep Parmar

It's was good experience, The facilities they provides and the technology they used for check up are of high quality. Beautiful experience.. Visited the hospital for the first time and I'm highly satisfied and happy with the overall experience.. They take care of you completely and also follow all the necessary precautions of Covid 19... Keep up the good work.

Mrunali Tikle

The staff is very polite and clearly explains everything. The Senior Dr.Bhushan Ghodke is very patient and gives enough time on explaining things technically to their patients. It was a nice experience being here and the best part was, it was free eye checkup camp but there was no compromises done with the quality pr service. Highly recommended it.

Chandani Gupta

My grandfather's Right eye cataract surgery was done at Iksha Eye Care by Dr. Bhushan Ghodke.. We all are really really happy and satisfied with the overall treatment and assistance given to us. Staff is doing a fantastic job. Thank you so much for the right guidance and help. Highly recommended...

Ayushi Shah

I had an emergency visit and the receptionist Chaitali calmed me down immediately, took me to Dr. Pooja who quickly checked the damage to my eye, gave me appropriate eye drops and put a bandaid on me, within 15 mins of it all! Super quick & tender care.

Prashant .Sharma

My eyes got infected due to a toxic reaction caused by some chemicals. Iksha eye care, and Doctor Pooja and her team were a relief to visit. The clinic is very hospitable, and within a week I got perfectly fine. The treatment suited me well, it is a must recommend place for any eye issues you may have. Also, very affordable.

Chetna Shah

Dr. Bhushan Ghodke treated the cataract in both my eyes and the entire procedure, from the first visit to the last check-up was absolutely amazing. The doctor and the staff are extremely kind and helped explain the procedure clearly. The overall treatment and experience was great - I would surely recommend Iksha Eye Care!

Dr Khoje Smita

I am totally satisfied with Doctor and staff. The explanation by doctor was good. And check up was also good.

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