Glaucoma - The Silent Thief of Sight
To understand well the subject, we must first appreciate how the eyes enables us to see, and the major role of the optic nerve plays in this process.
Let us compare our eyes with a camera. When taking pictures, as we click on the shutter, the lens of the camera let the lights go inside then focuses the light on the film and when the light hits the film, an image was created. This idea is same with a normal eye. When light rays enter the eye through the pupil, it is focused on the cornea and lens into the retina. Retina acts like the film of the camera. When light hits the retina, tiny cells collect the signals and create electrical signal. The signal is transmitted through the brain with the help of the …show more content…
Instead, high eye pressure compresses the optic nerve causing cells to die and creating a permanent damage and loss of vision.
Glaucoma is called a silent thief of sight because normally there is no early warning signs and develops slowly. It is only when the condition is quite advanced when patient becomes aware of the visual impairments. There is also no noticeable sight loss for many years because the vision loss happens first in your peripheral vision or side vision. A patient with glaucoma can still have 20/20 vision regardless on the optic nerve damage. In glaucoma, visual acuity or sharpness of vision is maintained until late stage. Indeed, early diagnosis nearly impossible without a complete eye checkup.
Glaucoma is a disease that cannot be prevented. Taking vitamins and supplements will not help you to be exempted on acquiring it. However, it can be diagnose timely through comprehensive eye checkup which includes visual acuity, intraocular pressure checking, direct ophthalmoscopy and visual field testing. The damage on the vision because of glaucoma is irreversible even with treatment and surgery. However, with an early treatment, you can slow down the progress. Early treatments includes routinely intraocular pressure monitoring, instilling eye drops and laser surgery to lower
To understand well the subject, we must first appreciate how the eyes enables us to see, and the major role of the optic nerve plays in this process.
Let us compare our eyes with a camera. When taking pictures, as we click on the shutter, the lens of the camera let the lights go inside then focuses the light on the film and when the light hits the film, an image was created. This idea is same with a normal eye. When light rays enter the eye through the pupil, it is focused on the cornea and lens into the retina. Retina acts like the film of the camera. When light hits the retina, tiny cells collect the signals and create electrical signal. The signal is transmitted through the brain with the help of the …show more content…
Instead, high eye pressure compresses the optic nerve causing cells to die and creating a permanent damage and loss of vision.
Glaucoma is called a silent thief of sight because normally there is no early warning signs and develops slowly. It is only when the condition is quite advanced when patient becomes aware of the visual impairments. There is also no noticeable sight loss for many years because the vision loss happens first in your peripheral vision or side vision. A patient with glaucoma can still have 20/20 vision regardless on the optic nerve damage. In glaucoma, visual acuity or sharpness of vision is maintained until late stage. Indeed, early diagnosis nearly impossible without a complete eye checkup.
Glaucoma is a disease that cannot be prevented. Taking vitamins and supplements will not help you to be exempted on acquiring it. However, it can be diagnose timely through comprehensive eye checkup which includes visual acuity, intraocular pressure checking, direct ophthalmoscopy and visual field testing. The damage on the vision because of glaucoma is irreversible even with treatment and surgery. However, with an early treatment, you can slow down the progress. Early treatments includes routinely intraocular pressure monitoring, instilling eye drops and laser surgery to lower