GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is defined as elevated pressure inside the eye which, if untreated, causes damage to the optic nerve and consequent loss of vision. It is one of the more common treatable causes of blindness in the world. Usually, most of the victims of glaucoma have normal sight most of their lives. But sometime after the age of 35, glaucoma suddenly strikes and their sight can never be restored. There are two principle types of glaucoma, acute type which strikes suddenly and chronic type, which progresses slowly and painlessly.

In chronic glaucoma, eye drops and oral medication may be sufficient except in some severe cases which require surgery. For acute glaucoma, eye drops are only given to lower the eye pressure. In order to prevent the future attack of acute glaucoma, laser treatment or surgery are essential to reduce the eye pressure. However, all these treatments can only reduce the eye pressure to prevent further loss of vision but cannot restore vision which has already been lost!

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