The term "glaucoma" refers to a whole group of diseases, due to which the pressure inside the eyes rises and a person experiences discomfort because of this. We will analyze the causes that can lead to the occurrence of this ailment. You will learn more about the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of glaucoma from the article.
Causes of Glaucoma
The old age of the patient is the main cause of the disease. Can glaucoma be cured at the initial stage if it is caused by age? Definitely yes, but you won’t be able to completely avoid it. As a rule, this disease is more often manifested in people over 45 years old. The manifestation of the disease can also be affected by the often experienced stress, which is responsible for increasing pressure: the more a person experiences stress in his life, the more chances he has to get this ailment.
As a rule, the Negroid race and its representatives are more prone to glaucoma than the rest, so the ethnic factor is very important. Diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and overweight can also lead to the onset of the disease. Do not lose sight of chronic eye diseases, as well as their possible injuries. Certain medications can also affect the development of eye disease with their composition. Not the least role is played by heredity. However, this disease does not have to be congenital; more often, people acquire it during their lifetime.
Who is at risk?
The main cause of blindness around the world is glaucoma (activated in the age group of 40). For safety reasons, it is necessary to know the main symptoms of an eye disease in order to contact an ophthalmologist in time and avoid disability. It is worth noting that the absence of any symptoms is the most dangerous situation. Since it is accurate to determine that the ailment that overcomes is glaucoma, only a qualified specialist is capable. Where and how can glaucoma be cured and can the secondary form be driven into remission? Is the therapy carried out at home or in a medical facility? It all depends on the state of vision and the age of the patient.
Self diagnosis
There is an opportunity to independently pass a health test and identify an eye disease, let's proceed:
How many positive answers do you have?
- Close the left and right eyes in turn and compare whether you see the same clear image (if you wear glasses, you do not need to take them off)?
- Do you have a vascular red net in front of your eyes?
- Is there a haze in my eyes?
- Do you feel heavy in your eyes?
- Is it difficult over time to focus vision at different distances?
- Are your eyes tired quickly?
- Do you observe bright circles around light sources?
- Does eye pain lead to a headache?
- Has your vision changed in the dark?
- Did your vision deteriorate sharply?
If you have several positive answers, you should immediately run to the doctor. Since there is an obvious problem caused by eye disease, it will be very good if it is not glaucoma, but something easier. But in no case should you delay!
Diagnostics
As a rule, at the initial stage of the disease, the symptoms are not acute, and this is a problem. Because of this, many patients are not aware of their illness. Consider how glaucoma can be diagnosed. Tonometry can measure eye pressure. If it is elevated, then the person is sick. As a rule, before measuring the eyes can be instilled with anesthetic drops, and then measure the pressure in the eye with a tonometer. To clearly visualize the condition of the eyes and determine the type of disease, gonioscopy is necessary. During the examination, the doctor uses a mirrored lens, which gives the best overview for diagnosticians.
Ophthalmoscopy
During ophthalmoscopy, an ophthalmoscope is used - this is a tool that allows you to see the enlarged structure of the eye. For this, it is necessary to instill eyes with special drops that dilate the pupil. As a rule, due to glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged, its fibers die, so it begins to deform.
Pachymetry and perimetry
To measure the thickness of the cornea of the eye, it is necessary to conduct pachymetry. If the cornea is thick, then, as a rule, the pressure inside the eye will be low. And finally, such a type of diagnosis as perimetry allows you to see the blackout on the patient’s eye. And the test will show their exact location, for this you need to use the device in the form of a bowl, which is called the "perimeter". The computer, in turn, gives the person a signal that he should see the luminous dot and inform the doctor every time he sees it.
Signs of ailment
The deception of the disease is manifested in the fact that it does not appear until the moment it passes into an incurable degree. In the initial stage, it is much easier to cure. The occurrence more often occurs in middle-aged people who need to measure pressure inside the eye for preventive purposes. The disease manifests itself in different ways. All patients are divided into 3 groups:
Symptoms of group 1:
- “flashing flies” in front of the eyes;
- sudden eye fatigue during eye strain.
2 groups:
- the perception of the eye fogs up over periods, objects are visible through a peculiar veil, swelling of the cornea occurs, pressure increases in the pupil;
- there are rainbow circles from light sources with the appearance of darkness, outlined by the "circle of the rainbow" of the entire spectrum of colors, in 75% of cases - this develops glaucoma.
3rd group:
- headache is similar to migraine, pain in the temple with a pulsating character.
The onset of the disease:
- Lacrimation is a sign of early glaucoma. Its occurrence is associated with an imbalance in the replenishment and release of the eye fluid of tissues in the eye, leading to an increase in pressure in the eyes. Hence the increase in fluid volume (tears).
- Sensation of moisture, filling the eye with an imaginary tear. When wiping the eyes, the scarf stays dry. Feeling hydrated is proportional to pressure in the eye.
When contacting an ophthalmologist, it is necessary to measure the pressure. Pay attention to families with relatives who have glaucoma. Here heredity and predisposition are observed.
Glaucoma refers to diseases where the circulation process of the eye fluid is disturbed. Accumulation of more eye fluid than excretion. There is an increase in pressure. Blood vessels that provide nutrition to the retina, sheath and nerve are compressed.
The first signs are rainbow circles, a foggy field of vision, eye pain, pain in the temple, and the superciliary arch. Worse with peripheral perception, the visual field narrows in a limited "tunnel." A change in the parameters of the periphery and the visual structure of nerves is characteristic of the onset stage. Traits of the disease are poorly expressed or absent. At this stage, drug treatment is especially effective.
Can glaucoma be cured by surgery?
Nowadays, surgical treatment of this disease is performed using laser technology and microsurgery. Surgical intervention is necessary if treatment with medication does not give any result. The condition of the eyes does not always improve after the operation, and the pressure inside the eyes may not decrease, so the recovery does not end with the operation.
Laser surgery. Varieties of laser surgery during the treatment of the disease. Laser iridectomy. This surgical intervention consists in the fact that the laser beam makes a hole in the iris, which allows the fluid inside the eye to circulate much better, so that intraocular pressure becomes lower and the condition of the eyes returns to normal.
Trabeculoplasty with a laser. This type of surgery is now immeasurably important for the treatment of a disease such as glaucoma. During the operation, local anesthesia is used, but the doctor opens each drainage channel that was blocked using a laser, which also restores the circulation of intraocular fluid.
Installing an implant or tubule. This method means that the patient is implanted with a microdevice in the eye, which contributes to the outflow of fluid.
But can glaucoma be cured without surgery?
Treatment with folk remedies
It is not necessary at the same time to refuse medical treatment, since it is quite possible to combine it with folk remedies. Is it possible to cure glaucoma 4 degrees with such means? At this stage, only surgery is suitable. But at the initial, traditional medicine is quite suitable.
In the fight against glaucoma, duckweed will help - this is grass growing in water, it can be a pond or a lake. It is necessary to rinse several bunches of herbs and grind in a blender, after which it is necessary to add two glasses of vodka to it. Next, the composition should be infused for about a week. Drink this infusion should be a teaspoon 2 times a day, washed down with any drink.
From glaucoma, coriander, caraway seeds and dill, mixed in equal proportions, will also help. Brew one teaspoon of dried herbs and leave to cool completely, then strain. It is advisable to drink a glass a day, gradually increasing the amount. You need to take such a decoction for a rather long time, but, as a rule, after it, glaucoma goes away forever. As mentioned above, dill is also useful in this disease. It is enough to take a spoonful of seeds and pour them with boiling water, then boil for 5 minutes. In the end, you need to let the broth infuse and drink half a glass a day before meals.
Prevention
The best prevention of glaucoma is its detection in the early stages and complex treatment. It is prevention that will help maintain excellent vision and eliminate early blindness. In the early stages, the disease is extremely difficult to identify due to its almost asymptomatic course. Therefore, doctors recommend that you regularly consult a doctor for an examination. After forty years, you need to visit an ophthalmologist once every six months.
The doctor may prescribe a course of treatment with drops. They will reduce internal pressure and excessive moisture. But with treatment, the doctor's prescriptions should be clearly followed. Do not skip taking medications, because then the whole process will not benefit.
In addition, in the initial stages, the doctor may prescribe rehabilitation treatment. Its nature and duration depend on the individual characteristics of the person. Such treatment is recommended to be carried out regularly, approximately once every two to three years. If the patient falls into a risk group, then he should save his body and reduce physical and psychological stress.
An aged person needs to know the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of glaucoma. This will allow him to start therapy faster when the disease occurs.