Not long ago, Ms. Zhang was found to have a "shallow anterior chamber and narrow corner" in her eyes during a physical examination in the hospital. According to the doctor, this eye structure is a high-risk factor for glaucoma. After learning that her father also had a history of glaucoma, the doctor advised her relatives to also have a glaucoma test, which confused Ms. Zhang. After learning about this situation, the editor consulted Gao Rui, an ophthalmologist at Handan Mingren Hospital, to understand the precautions for glaucoma.
Dangers of glaucoma
1. Have a certain genetic predisposition.
During the diagnosis process, the doctor asks about the patient's family history of glaucoma. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient's immediate family members may be considered the priority of the diagnosis of glaucoma. This is because glaucoma runs in families, and if one person in the family has the disease, the risk of developing it in the immediate family is increased. Especially when a parent or elder has glaucoma, their child is at a higher risk than normal.
2. There is no specific age limit for onset.
Glaucoma can occur in people of any age, from infancy to old age, and its incidence is second only to cataracts.
3. The onset of symptoms is usually insidious.
In the early stages of the disease, there may be no noticeable symptoms or symptoms may be very mild. In some patients, the initial symptoms may be headache, nausea, and vomiting due to increased intraocular pressure, which can be easily confused with gastroenteritis or neuropathic headache, leading to a misdiagnosis of gastroenterology or neurology. When the condition is severe, symptoms may include eye pain, headache, vision loss, rapid progression of myopia, iridis and visual field defects, etc. In addition, high intraocular pressure can also cause nausea and vomiting, and the specific symptoms vary from person to person.
4. It may lead to irreversible blindness.
(1) Optic nerve damage.
Glaucoma causes the gradual death of optic nerve cells and fibers, which gradually blocks the connection between the eye and the brain. This damage to the optic nerve is the main cause of glaucomatous vision impairment and is irreversible. If left untreated, it can eventually lead to blindness.
(2) Visual field impairment
Glaucoma prevention
Heavy screening to preserve eyesight. Glaucoma is scary, but it is preventable and controllable. As long as early screening, early detection, early treatment, and intraocular pressure are controlled within the ideal range, most patients can maintain good visual function.
Glaucoma test
The examination for glaucoma is relatively simple. Angle opening, elevated intraocular pressure, visual field defects, and optic nerve changes in the fundus are the most important diagnostic indicators of glaucoma. More than 90% of glaucoma can be diagnosed by taking a single fundus photo. At the same time, the intraocular pressure test is conducted in a non-contact manner, and it only takes 1 minute to accurately measure the intraocular pressure. For high-risk groups, it's best to have these tests done regularly.
Dr. Gao mentioned that glaucoma can only be controlled, not cured, and the key to diagnosis and treatment is early detection and treatment. Currently, the main treatments for glaucoma are medications, lasers, and surgery. However, as of now, there is no cure for glaucoma. When choosing a treatment modality, ophthalmologists generally make an individualized choice based on the specific situation of the patient.
Source: Handan Mingren Hospital