Introduction
Glaucoma is an eye condition that slowly and quietly progresses. It is widely known as the “silent thief of sight” because it stealthily damages the optic nerves, gradually causing permanent loss of eyesight. Quite often, it will not show any signs or symptoms until it is too late, and by then, the vision that has been lost may never be recovered. The only thing that could be done is to salvage the patient’s remaining vision and prevent them from going completely blind.
There are two types of glaucoma. Angle-closure glaucoma is considered more dangerous, but it is less common. Most patients nowadays have open-angle glaucoma, and this article summarizes everything you should know about it. Read through the end to learn some of the most effective prevention methods and treatment options for open-angle glaucoma.
What Is Open-Angle Glaucoma?
When talking about glaucoma, the term “angle” refers to the drainage angle located in the front part of the eye. Specifically, it is where the cornea and the iris meet. The role of the drainage angle is to control or regulate the outflow of the fluids (called aqueous humor) that maintain the pressure in the eye.
In open-angle glaucoma, the drainage angle remains open (meaning it is not blocked, which is often the case with angle-closure glaucoma). However, even if this is the case, other parts of the drainage system do not work properly. As the drainage system gradually becomes less efficient over time, the aqueous humor will not flow out as it should. This slowly builds up pressure inside the eye and soon starts to damage the optic nerve at the back of the eye.
Your optic nerve is solely responsible for sending visual information from the eye straight to the brain. The pressure caused by glaucoma slowly damages this communication pathway between the brain and the eye. Over time, this will take away your peripheral vision; if left untreated, your central vision will also be affected. In the most severe cases, complete blindness is possible.
How To Prevent Vision Loss From Glaucoma
Without a doubt, open-angle glaucoma is a dangerous condition, so people must do what they can to prevent themselves from getting the disease. To lower your chances of getting glaucoma, follow these tips:
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle positively impacts your entire body, including your eyes. Regularly exercising, even through light workouts like walking or swimming, can go a long way since it can lower eye pressure. Eating nutritious foods, such as those rich in carotenoids and other minerals, is also advisable.
Quit smoking, too, as much as possible. This habit increases blood pressure and eye inflammation, which are risk factors for different health conditions, including glaucoma.
Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Regularly visiting your ophthalmologist is a way to check if your eyes are in their most optimal condition. A comprehensive eye exam is essential to detect early signs of glaucoma and get a proper diagnosis as soon as possible. If you have the condition, the doctors can help you salvage your remaining eyesight and prevent you from going completely blind.
Wear Protective Eye Gear
When going out in the sun, try to wear glasses with UV protection. They are specifically designed to shield your eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Without these glasses, you are putting yourself at risk of damaging your eyes and developing different conditions, including glaucoma.
Be sure to wear protective eye gear, too, if your work or hobbies involve tasks that can cause eye injury. A few examples are doing construction work, participating in contact sports, and more. Proper protective equipment can shield your eyes from the potential harm of such activities, reducing your chances of developing glaucoma and other threatening eye conditions.
Treatment Options for Open-Angle Glaucoma
There is no known cure for glaucoma yet. However, for a person with the condition, several ways can help save their remaining vision and prevent further damage. For open-angle glaucoma, some of the treatment methods include:
Medication
The first line of treatment for open-angle glaucoma is medication. There are eye drops available to lower the pressure in your eyes through specific means. Here are the ways a few of them work:
- Prostaglandin Analogs – This eye drop is designed to increase the drainage of aqueous humor to lower pressure.
- Beta Blockers – Contrary to the first one, beta blockers do not increase the outflow of aqueous humor. Instead, it decreases the production of such fluids, thereby decreasing pressure in the eye.
- Alpha Agonists – Alpha agonists combine the effects of prostaglandin analogs and beta blockers. They effectively increase the outflow of aqueous humor and decrease its production.
Pills are also available for people who might not be comfortable using eye drops. Their doctor can inform them about the different medication options so they can have a better drug of choice to treat their open-angle glaucoma.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is another option. For open-angle glaucoma, a procedure called selective laser trabeculoplasty can be done. It involves using laser beams to target the trabecular meshwork (part of the drainage angle) to increase the outflow of fluids and reduce eye pressure. This method is minimally invasive and has little to no side effects.
Surgery
Surgery is also possible if both eye drops and laser therapy do not work. Some of the procedures that can be done are:
- Trabeculectomy – In this procedure, the surgeon will create a tiny incision in the white part of the eye. Some of the trabecular meshwork will be taken out to drain extra fluids and lower eye pressure.
- Drainage Implant Surgery – This procedure involves implanting a shunt in the eye to help drain excess aqueous humor. The fluids will then be redirected and absorbed by a plate placed on the side of the eyeball.
- MIGS – Short for minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, MIGS is a set of treatments involving microscopic devices to create drainage channels that will effectively lower eye pressure. MIGS is known to be safer and faster compared to other open-angle glaucoma surgery options.
Have Your Eyes Checked by Glaucoma Specialists Today
Learn more about the treatment methods that can be used for open-angle glaucoma. Specialists from Asian Eye Institute will gladly help you, so feel free to schedule a consultation with them today. To book an appointment with us, you can fill out our online form and submit it virtually. You can also speak with our staff directly by calling our mobile and landline numbers.
