For a long time, Elaine Rivera had difficulty driving, especially at night. She also suffered from headaches with blurring of vision, occurring almost every other day. In February 2014, she was diagnosed with glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that result in optic nerve damage, usually characterized by increased eye pressure. Asian Eye Glaucoma Specialist Dr. Imelda Yap-Veloso explains, “The eye has a ‘drainage system’ that allows fluid to exit the eyes. If this drainage system is blocked, the pressure then builds up. This increased eye pressure changes the optic nerve, leading to permanent loss of side vision.”
Glaucoma does not normally have symptoms at the onset, so a person with glaucoma may not notice his vision loss. “Glaucoma is often painless, but depending on the type and extent of the condition, a person may suffer from eye pain, nausea, blurry vision, eye redness, gradual loss of vision and tunnel vision in the advanced stages,” she explains.
The damage caused by glaucoma is irreversible, but treatments like eye drops, lasers and other surgeries are aimed at lowering eye pressure to help preserve remaining vision. Dr. Yap-Veloso strongly advises patients to undergo eye checkup every year. “A complete eye checkup is highly recommended to those who are aged 40 and above; have high eye pressure, a family history of glaucoma, and suffer from diabetes or hypertension.”
Rivera immediately underwent laser surgery upon learning about her eye condition. “It’s a good thing my eye condition was detected early. I no longer suffer from headaches and more importantly, I didn’t lose my vision. I can still do my daily tasks and even my hobbies like watching movies and reading books.”
