While working, one of my colleagues exclaimed on the flashes of light that appeared in his vision. A few flashes on both eyes happened at the same time within minutes. Most of us encouraged him to quickly visit a GP the next day and ask for a referral letter for a comprehensive check up with the eye hospital. He did as we sighted that he may be suffering from Glaucoma at the early stage. On 6 March 2008 was Glaucoma day where the Alexandra Hospital is offering cheap rates for those above 55 years to have their vision tested for glaucoma. One of our colleagues makes an appointment for diagnosing glaucoma and brought back a brochure title” What is Glaucoma.” freely distributed by Singapore Eye Hospital.
Glaucoma is Singapore’s most common cause of permanent blindness. Many call it the “Silent Thief of the Sight” because it can steal your vision away without any warning and you will never know it – quietly, painlessly and irreversibly.
Glaucoma is a disease of the most important structure in you eye: the optic nerve – an “electrical cable” which transmits signals from the eyeball to the brain. This allows you to see. In glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged from a numbers of causes.
Glaucoma is a lifelong disease. Once diagnosed, a patient requires strict follow up with his eye doctor for the rest of his life.
There are several types of glaucoma and each causes optic nerve damage in its own way. If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, please ask the doctor which type you have.
Types of Glaucoma
Open Angle Glaucoma
The eyeball’s drainage system slowly becomes defective leading to extreme internal pressure. This is the most common from and it is painless.
Close Angle Glaucoma
The eyeball’s drainage system physically closes up (slowly or suddenly) leading to extreme internal pressure. This can be painful, especially the sudden, acute version.
Low Pressure Glaucoma
The optic nerve itself is so weak in these patients that it gets damaged with normal eyeball pressure and it is painless.
Other Types
High eyeball pressure can also be caused by other eye conditions like diabetes, cataracts inflammation and surgery. In rare case, infant may be born with defective drainage systems.
Glaucoma suspect
These patients have not been proven to have glaucoma. Some may have high pressure without any detectable nerve damage. Others have weak-looking optic nerves but no definite loss of function.
The signs and symptoms of Glaucoma
There are to broad classes of glaucoma
Chronic glaucoma causes very slow and painless reduction of vision
Acute glaucoma causes severe, sudden eye redness, pain and blurring vision
The most unfortunate are those patients unknowingly suffer from the chronic form and hence, without realizing that they have glaucoma until it is quite advanced.
By the time, glaucoma causes any visual problems; there is already severe damage to the optic nerve. Regular eye check-ups are so important for older people and those with family history of glaucoma.
The eye doctor who can tell you if you have glaucoma by doing the following ways:
Checking your eyeball pressure
By examining the appearance of your optic nerve
By using a computer to test you visual field
By using high resolution imaging of the optic nerve
By early detection you can prevent it from stealing your vision.
Your eye doctor will usually focus treatment on lowering your eyeball pressure by one or more of methods. The goal of treatment is to prevent further damage to the optic nerve and to preserve remaining vision.
Eye drops
Laser treatment
Surgery
I cannot imagine how to relive my life if one day I lose my sight at the age of fifty. The colored world becomes dark all at once, a sighted without sight, how pitiful!
Glaucoma is Singapore’s most common cause of permanent blindness. Many call it the “Silent Thief of the Sight” because it can steal your vision away without any warning and you will never know it – quietly, painlessly and irreversibly.
Glaucoma is a disease of the most important structure in you eye: the optic nerve – an “electrical cable” which transmits signals from the eyeball to the brain. This allows you to see. In glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged from a numbers of causes.
Glaucoma is a lifelong disease. Once diagnosed, a patient requires strict follow up with his eye doctor for the rest of his life.
There are several types of glaucoma and each causes optic nerve damage in its own way. If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, please ask the doctor which type you have.
Types of Glaucoma
Open Angle Glaucoma
The eyeball’s drainage system slowly becomes defective leading to extreme internal pressure. This is the most common from and it is painless.
Close Angle Glaucoma
The eyeball’s drainage system physically closes up (slowly or suddenly) leading to extreme internal pressure. This can be painful, especially the sudden, acute version.
Low Pressure Glaucoma
The optic nerve itself is so weak in these patients that it gets damaged with normal eyeball pressure and it is painless.
Other Types
High eyeball pressure can also be caused by other eye conditions like diabetes, cataracts inflammation and surgery. In rare case, infant may be born with defective drainage systems.
Glaucoma suspect
These patients have not been proven to have glaucoma. Some may have high pressure without any detectable nerve damage. Others have weak-looking optic nerves but no definite loss of function.
The signs and symptoms of Glaucoma
There are to broad classes of glaucoma
Chronic glaucoma causes very slow and painless reduction of vision
Acute glaucoma causes severe, sudden eye redness, pain and blurring vision
The most unfortunate are those patients unknowingly suffer from the chronic form and hence, without realizing that they have glaucoma until it is quite advanced.
By the time, glaucoma causes any visual problems; there is already severe damage to the optic nerve. Regular eye check-ups are so important for older people and those with family history of glaucoma.
The eye doctor who can tell you if you have glaucoma by doing the following ways:
Checking your eyeball pressure
By examining the appearance of your optic nerve
By using a computer to test you visual field
By using high resolution imaging of the optic nerve
By early detection you can prevent it from stealing your vision.
Your eye doctor will usually focus treatment on lowering your eyeball pressure by one or more of methods. The goal of treatment is to prevent further damage to the optic nerve and to preserve remaining vision.
Eye drops
Laser treatment
Surgery
I cannot imagine how to relive my life if one day I lose my sight at the age of fifty. The colored world becomes dark all at once, a sighted without sight, how pitiful!
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