Skip to main content
  • Glaucoma
    The number of people (aged 40-80 years) with glaucoma worldwide was estimated at 64.3 million in 2013, and is expected to increase to 76.0 million in 2020.  It is an eye disease which is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. It is often referred to as a “silent killer” as it does not manifest any symptoms until extensive peripheral visual loss becomes apparent in the final stages of the disease. 
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 11 March 2017

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide is an eye disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to permanent vision loss. Usually (but not always) the damage occurs when the eye's internal fluid pressure rises too high. It is often referred to as a “silent killer” as it does not manifest any symptoms until extensive peripheral visual loss becomes apparent in the final stages of the disease. Most varieties of glaucoma are chronic, virtually lifelong disorders than can be controlled but not cured. Like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, or arthritis, glaucoma requires some modification in lifestyle, such as compliance with medical regimens, regular physician visits, and acknowledgment of the disease to achieve successful treatment.

How is intraocular pressure related to glaucoma?

Glaucoma is usually associated with elevated intraocular pressure which could be due to an excessive production of fluid (aqueous humor) from the ciliary body or an obstruction of fluid( aqueous humor) outflow through the chamber angle (trabecular meshwork). Fluid within the eye then builds up and increases pressure on the optic nerve. The nerve fibers and blood vessels in the optic nerve are easily damaged by this pressure, resulting in vision loss. However, some patients exhibit progressive optic nerve damage of glaucoma without elevated intraocular pressure. This is referred to as "low tension glaucoma" or "normal pressure glaucoma."

There is another condition called “ocular hypertension” in which the intraocular pressure of the eye is higher than normal but does not cause optic nerve damage and vision loss. Ocular hypertension is a risk factor for glaucoma and should be monitored closely.

Glaucoma content provided by Senior Ophthalmologist Dr. Charu Gupta

Condition

Stories

  • Blind person using assistive devices
    Visual Assistive Devices for Better Quality of Life
    According to the WHO, about 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from near or distant vision impairment. Vision impairment is seen across all ages. Recent technological advances have ensured that people with low vision can continue their daily life with the aid of visual assistive devices or equipment. T.V Aishwarya educates us on the availability of devices in India, and how they improve independent living. What are visual assistive devices? Who can it benefit? Visual assistive devices are…
  • ग्लुकोमा(काला मोतिया) के बारे में जानें डॉ. रमंजीत सिहोता, ग्लूकोमा सर्जन और डॉ. सिद्धार्थ दीक्षित
    ग्लुकोमा(काला मोतिया) के बारे में जानें
    ग्लूकोमा (काला मोतिया) अंधेपन का एक प्रमुख कारण है। ग्लूकोमा से दृष्टि की हानि होती है और अगर उपचार से इसे नियंत्रित न करें तो दृष्टि जा सकती है। ग्लूकोमा पर जानकारी के लिए हमने आईएचओपीई के साथ की गयी आंखों की बीमारियों का श्रृंखला के अंतर्गत दो विशेषज्ञों के साथ एक वेबईनार किया था : डॉ. रमंजीत सिहोता, ग्लूकोमा सर्जन, श्रॉफ आई सेंटर, और डॉ. सिद्धार्थ दीक्षित, कन्सल्टन्ट ऑपथलमोलोजिस्ट, वीएसटी सेंटर फॉर ग्लूकोमा केयर, एल वी प्रसाद आई इंस्टिट्यूट। नीचे पढ़ें  वेबिनार पर आधारित कुछ…
  • Heading of Vision Rehabilitation For Better Quality of Life and profile pictures of Ms. Beula Christy, Head Institute for Vision Rehabilitation , LV Prasad Eye Institute Ms. T.V. Aishwarya, Rehabilitation Counselor, L V Prasad Eye Institute
    Webinar: Vision Rehabilitation For Better Quality Of Life
    PatientsEngage partnered with iHOPE to highlight the importance of vision rehabilitation and how early intervention can help a person with low vision or blindness live productive lives. India has an estimated 12 million blind and 50 million visually impaired persons using the definition of National Programme for Control of Blindness. However awareness of vision rehabilitation is still very low.     PatientsEngage brought together a panel including a person with lived experience and…
  • A woman in a white coat with a partially visible stethoscope covering one eye to demonstrate eye exercise
    How To Cope With Vision Loss
    Vision Rehabilitation is recommended for people with no vision or low vision, both children and adults, to enable them to live as independently as possible. Ms. Beula Christy, PhD, Head, Institute for Vision Rehabilitation L V Prasad Eye Institute explains how vision rehabilitation can be customised to suit the specific needs of the people concerned. What is Vision Rehabilitation?  Rehabilitation is an essential health service that focuses on the functioning of an individual to live as…
  • Webinar: Living Smarter With Glaucoma
    Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in India. If managed well, you can prevent loss of vision and maintain a good quality of life. PatientsEngage has partnered with IHOPE to bring to you insights on how to manage glaucoma effectively. Our panelists for this discussion on 18th April were Viji Venkatesh, Glaucoma patient advocate Dr. Sirisha Senthil, Head VST Glaucoma Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute   Many people don’t understand this disease or know about it. Even members of the…
  • Early Detection Of Glaucoma Can Arrest Vision Loss
    Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. Dr Chandrima Paul, Opthalmologist Kolkata, and Honorary General Secretary, Glaucoma Society of India, talks about the risks of Glaucoma and the importance of early detection.  #WorldSightDay #Glaucoma  What percentage of glaucoma patients go blind? A 2001 report said that Glaucoma is the 3rd major cause of blindness in India. It causes almost as much as 5.9 per cent of blindness. It is almost an irreversible cause of blindness.…
  • Image of a partially visible person in forward bend and a text that says Glaucoma Activities To Avoid
    Exercises And Activities To Avoid With Glaucoma
    You must continue to exercise if you have glaucoma. Meditation and yoga are also helpful. However you must take some precautions. The following exercises and activities can cause increase in ocular pressure or eye pressure. What Exercises Should You Avoid: All exercises in which your head is bent or below your heart level. All exercises that require you to be upside down such as hand/head stands, certain yoga poses*, various gymnastic or acrobatic moves. Isometric exercises like squatting,…
  • Stock pic with the text overlay of Diagnosis of Glaucoma
    Timely Diagnosis of Glaucoma Can Prevent Blindness
    After the age of 40 everyone should go for an eye test as glaucoma is largely asymptomatic and can lead to significant vision loss and blindness in the advance stages, says Dr. Nishant Kumar, Consultant, Ophthalmology at Hinduja Hospital, Khar. What is the main cause of getting glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye disease that is often associated with elevated intraocular pressure, in which the eye (optic) nerve is damaged. As this nerve gradually deteriorates, it can lead to loss of vision and even…
  • An image of a man administering eye drops and a text overlay of How I manage glaucoma
    How I Manage My Glaucoma
    Vijay*, from Mumbai was diagnosed with Glaucoma when he was 42. He shares his experience of managing glaucoma and his mantra to others living with the condition. Introduce yourself 52 years old, Indian man. Active and healthy! An Engineer by qualification and an IT guy by profession. Please tell us a bit about your condition - when were you diagnosed, the early symptoms? During a regular eye checkup, which I used to do when I felt my number needed checking,  in 2011, I was diagnosed with…
  • Physical Fitness Is Important For All, Including Those With Disabilities
    Divya Sharma, 27, is a young lady with only 25 per cent vision due to acute glaucoma as a child. But that has not stopped her from being a fitness enthusiast. She has five belts in Karate and she also does regular weight lifting to keep herself in shape. Fitness is an important aspect of our life. It is said that people often relate fitness just to celebrities and models. Well, what do you do to ensure that you are fit and active? And if you feel that fitness is primarily about climbing the…