My 56-year old Uncle was recently diagnosed with Glaucoma. Kindly let me know what this is about. Thanks.
Nneka (by SMS)
Glaucoma is a common eye condition that affects people as they get older. It happens when fluid does not drain from the eye, increasing pressure and the risk of damage to the optic nerve. It may have no symptoms in the early stages but can lead to vision loss.
Regular eye tests can help detect changes that will enable a person to start treatment, usually with eye drops. This treatment can slow or prevent vision loss.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can cause vision loss and damage to the optic nerve. Possible treatments include eye drops and surgery.
Experts do not know exactly what causes glaucoma, but some health conditions increase the risk. If a person has primary glaucoma, there is no identifiable cause. If they have secondary glaucoma there is an underlying cause, such as a tumor, diabetes, hypothyroidism, an advance.
Also known as chronic glaucoma, this is the most common type. It develops slowly, and a person may not notice any symptoms, even if slight vision loss occurs. There is no known way to prevent glaucoma, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve the chance of preventing vision loss.
It is essential to have regular eye checks because this is the only way to detect glaucoma in the early stages.
A doctor can advise an individual on how often they should have an eye test, depending on their risk level.
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