Open angle glaucoma: This condition is often not detected by the patient until it is too late, as there are few, if any symptoms. Here, the passage for water, though open has some defects which allow incomplete egress of fluid.

A variety of tests are available for the diagnosis of glaucoma. These include: Visual Field analysis, Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT), corneal pachymetry and tonometry.

Treatment options include: medicines (in the form of eye drops, injections and tablets), laser therapy or surgery. The aim of glaucoma treatment is to reduce the intraocular pressure (IOP) to a level where further damage to the nerve fiber layers at the optic disc is minimized.

Changes in the optic disc are documented clinically by serial fundus photography.

The automated perimeter gives us the extent of damage that the optic nerve has already suffered and helps monitor the response to treatment. The analysis of optic disc cupping, retinal nerve fiber layers, macular ganglion cell thickness and angle of the anterior chamber imaging is done by OCT.   The optimal intraocular pressure for your eye will be decided by your treating physician; it varies from individual to individual and factors in the damage that the eye has already suffered. If you have glaucoma, or someone in the family has glaucoma, you need to get in touch with an ophthalmologist as early as possible.

If you get attacks of pain or redness, especially in dim light or in a movie theatre or when you wake up, there is a possibility that you have angle closure glaucoma.

You can avail of our family screening services for glaucoma. Remember that glaucoma is not a disease of the old; even babies can have glaucoma, which if left untreated can render the child blind for life.