As many of our regular patients have glaucoma we wanted to share a little more information about the condition. The week commencing 8th March is World Glaucoma Week so now is the perfect time to tell you some of the key facts surrounding it. Early detection is key to slowing the progression of glaucoma and regular eye tests are the only way to detect symptomless glaucoma early. At a late stage glaucoma is irreversible and results in sight loss and blindness.
Those most at risk are those people over 60, and those with a family history of the disease.
Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged at the point at which it leaves the eye. The nerve carries information from the light sensitive layer in your eye, the retina, to the brain where it is perceived as a picture. Your eye needs a certain amount of pressure to keep the eyeball in shape so that it can work properly. In some people, the damage is caused by raised eye pressure. Others may have an eye pressure within normal limits but damage occurs because there is a weakness in the optic nerve. Eye pressure is largely dependent on blood pressure.
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve, the part of the eye that carries the images we see to our brain. In a healthy eye a clear liquid circulates in the front portion of the eye. If you have glaucoma, the fluid does not flow properly. Fluid pressure increase and this extra force presses on the optic nerve in the back of the eye causing damage.
As we said EARLY DETECTION IS KEY!
REGULAR EYE TESTS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO DETECT SYMPTOMLESS GLAUCOMA EARLY
Why not come and see us for an eye test? You can book an appointment here today.
