Glaucoma is the second most common blind eye disease after cataracts, cataracts can be cured, but glaucoma is an irreversible blinding eye disease, and its harm is far greater than that of cataracts.
The onset of primary open-angle glaucoma and chronic angle-closure glaucoma is very insidious, with no symptoms and signs in the early stages, and no sensation or discomfort, but vision and vision will be "stolen" little by little.
For this reason, glaucoma is often described as a "thief of vision".
Risk factors
There are some high-risk factors for glaucoma, such as: family history of glaucoma, high myopia, diabetes mellitus, insufficient retinal perfusion pressure, excessive difference between intracranial pressure and cribriform pressure, optic nerve susceptibility to pressure, abnormal ocular anatomy, etc. These factors can cause damage to the optic nerve and damage to the visual field, leading to a reduced quality of life and reduced ability to work.
A patient with low vision and blindness can be a great burden on himself, his family, and society. To give a real-life example: a 75-year-old aunt who has no children and no daughters and lives with her niece. At the time of the visit, the niece said that her aunt had been touching the dishes around her a lot when she was eating recently, and she didn't know why.
These "tubular vision" patient centers may still be able to reach 1.0, but they are severely defective. When the visual field impairment reaches less than 10 degrees, our country has been designated as "blind".
Patients with "tubular vision".
If such a patient is in a household, the risk may not be too high, and they will just touch the dishes, but if a patient with advanced glaucoma and only a "tube vision" is still driving, or often goes out and about in dangerous areas, there may be a great risk to themselves and others because they cannot see the dangers around them.
How to prevent it
The onset of glaucoma is related to genetics, gender, age, high myopia, diabetes, etc., which we cannot avoid, but when these conditions exist, we should carry out detailed and systematic ophthalmic examination and screening, and through regular annual examinations such as intraocular pressure, vision, visual field, fundus, etc., early detection of glaucoma as a "thief", early and effective treatment, and control the further progression of the disease.
If a glaucoma patient has been diagnosed, through active treatment, regular follow-up, and strict adherence to the doctor's prescribed medication, it is possible for the glaucoma patient to maintain useful visual function for life.
It is recommended that patients with glaucoma should strictly do the following:
If you suddenly have headaches, eye pain, nausea, vomiting, etc., you must go to the ophthalmology department to check whether it is a glaucoma attack.
Glaucoma is a chronic, lifelong condition that requires lifelong treatment and management. May we all have a pair of "bright" eyes.
In this issue: Chen Jianhua, chief physician of the Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing Health Science Popularization Expert