Glaucoma: What Is It and How Can It Be Treated?
Glaucoma, one of the world’s leading causes of irreversible blindness, refers to a group of diseases that primarily affects the optic nerve. The worst part about it is that it rarely shows any symptoms until it’s already in its late stages. At that time, the affected person will gradually lose their vision, which they might never recover.
Here at Asian Eye Institute, we understand that catching the early signs of glaucoma is one of the best ways to prevent it from causing vision loss. Our doctors recommend regular comprehensive eye exams to our patients to detect the disease as early as possible and potentially stop it from progressing into blindness.
Overview of Glaucoma in the Philippines
Since glaucoma’s earliest symptoms are nearly impossible to detect, it has earned its moniker as the “silent thief of sight.” Over 80 million people are diagnosed with this eye condition, and this number is projected to go well over 100 million in the next 20 years, according to a report published by the National Glaucoma Research. The hard truth is that a significant number of the individuals who have glaucoma are Filipinos.
Symptoms and Causes of Glaucoma
Many people get confused with the terms ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians. It’s understandable to mistake them with each other because these medical professionals have some similarities, and the most glaring one is that they’re all technically eye experts. However, they each perform a unique job, so it’s best to familiarize yourself with them.
Even experts cannot pinpoint the actual cause of glaucoma, but it is known to be a result of damage to the optic nerves when there’s too much pressure on your eyes. Everyone can be affected by this condition, but the risks typically increase with age, meaning older people are more susceptible to it.
Its symptoms appear late, and they vary depending on the kind of glaucoma a person has. Those with open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, experience patchy blind spots along their side vision. They can develop tunnel vision, too, as the disease progresses. On the other hand, people with closed-angle glaucoma, one of the rarest types, can suffer from blurred vision, along with severe eye pains and headaches that can soon become a medical emergency.
Possible Effects of Glaucoma
If not treated immediately, glaucoma will cause irreparable damage to the eyes that eventually leads to blindness. When that time comes, everything will be affected, and the person will have to adjust their lifestyle after losing their vision.
No one wants to lose their sense of sight, so it’s best to do your utmost to not let that happen. You can rely on us here at Asian Eye Institute for help. We provide expert eye care that you might need if you wish to detect early signs of glaucoma and prevent it from getting worse.
Number of Filipinos With Glaucoma
About 300,000 Filipinos suffer from glaucoma. This is according to research published in 2021 by Novartis, a Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company with branches in the Philippines. They partnered with the Philippine Glaucoma Society and the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology to conduct the study and promote awareness on glaucoma and why it should be diagnosed early and treated promptly.
Regular eye checkups are necessary to detect glaucoma as early as possible. And since this disease can affect anyone, regardless of age and gender, all are being encouraged to visit an ophthalmologist to get their eyes checked.
Turning to Professionals
Sadly, even with today’s medical knowledge and technology, there is no known cure for glaucoma yet. What treatments usually do is prevent the disease from progressing and causing loss of vision. Patients might be recommended to take medications or use eye drops to minimize the strain in their eyes and preserve their remaining vision.
However, even if there is no known cure for glaucoma yet, you still shouldn’t neglect going to your eye doctor every so often. Visit them to have yourself checked for signs and symptoms of this dangerous disease. During regular comprehensive eye exams, your ophthalmologists will run tests that help in detecting glaucoma before it can trigger any significant damage.
Get Your Eyes Checked for Glaucoma Here at Asian Eye Institute
If you’re looking for a place to get a comprehensive eye exam to help detect glaucoma and other possible eye problems, you can visit us at Asian Eye Institute. Our company prides itself on providing high-quality that any patient deserves. We use high-end technologies and efficient systems to be able to help everyone who comes to us to get their eyes checked.
Furthermore, we have a team of specialists dedicated to help you, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands if you request any of our services. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Asian Eye Institute continues to serve tens of thousands of eye patients every year.
