What Is Glaucoma?

What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye condition where the optic nerve at the back of the eye becomes damaged. The optic nerve sends signals from the eye to the brain. Any damage to the optic nerve may result in damage to your eyesight.

Usually but not always, the damage occurs because pressure in the eye increases and damages nerve fibres which in turn leads to deterioration of the field of vision. When a significant number of these nerve fibres are damaged, blind spots occur in the field of vision.

Sight loss Glaucoma usually happens very slowly over time, and you may not have any early symptoms of glaucoma or notice deterioration in your vision until the later stages of the glaucoma condition. There are an estimated half a million people in the UK alone, with undiagnosed Glaucoma.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma

What is usually the first sign of Glaucoma? It is important to know these first signs of Glaucoma so that it can be diagnosed and treated promptly. Glaucoma vision is one of the first early indicators. What does Glaucoma vision look like and what is the first sign of glaucoma?

Loss of side and peripheral vision
Halos appearing around lighting.
Loss in vision in particular sudden loss of vision.
Eye redness
A cloud-like cornea
Nausea that may lead to vomiting.
Headache and eye pain
Loss of vision around edges known as tunnel vision.

Back

Answer:

An optician can provide accurate assessments and refer you on to a consultant ophthalmologist for further tests and diagnosis, should they be concerned. Any treatment for Glaucoma will be discussed with your consultant ophthalmologist.

What is The Most Common Form of Glaucoma?

The most common form of Glaucoma is called POAG - or Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, where sight loss starts around the edge of the field of vision and gradually moves inward in its advanced state, vision becomes narrower producing ‘tunnel vision’.

What is SLT laser treatment? SLT is a simple laser procedure that helps to reduce the eye pressure associated with glaucoma. iSIGHT offers the latest technology, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, as recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).

Is Glaucoma Curable By Surgery?

Glaucoma is not curable, but there are very good methods of keeping it under control and preserving your sight, helping you live a much more fulfilled lifestyle. The most common treatments for glaucoma are glaucoma eye drops, laser treatment or surgery. Treatment of acute glaucoma is initially with drugs to reduce the pressure within the eye.

Laser Trabeculoplasty - A tiny opening is created in the sclera (the white part of your eye) allowing fluid to drain away, thereby lowering the pressure in your eye.
Trabeculectomy - This involves removing a piece of tissue from the sclera, creating a flap through which the fluid drains.
Viscocanalostomy - the drainage canal is enlarged to allow more fluid to drain from the eye, thus lowering the pressure within your eye.

If you would like further reading, we recommend www.nhs.uk & www.rnib.org.uk

Glaucoma Genetic Predisposition -
Is Glaucoma Hereditary?

You are more at risk if a close family member already has Glaucoma.
Women are more prone to develop Glaucoma than men.
People with Afro Caribbean heritage are more prone to the condition than Caucasians.
Glaucoma is more common in later years, especially the over 40’s.
People with Certain medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
High intraocular pressure can cause Glaucoma.
Previous eye conditions or injuries and surgeries.
Other glaucoma genetic predispositions such as thin corneas.

Answer:

Surgery and treatment doesn’t completely cure glaucoma, regular treatment is recommended to keep on top and in control of the condition as much as possible. The Community Eye Health Journal refers to the treatment after your initial surgery as long-term postoperative care.

What Glaucoma Treatment Can We Offer?

Glaucoma Risk Assessment
Visual Fields
Eye Pressure Checks
Ocular Coherence Tomography
Corneal Thickness Assessment

Enquire for Glaucoma Assessment

Glaucoma Surgery Cost UK?

How much does glaucoma treatment cost? The cost of private treatment for Glaucoma will depend on your treatment. Here are some of the glaucoma surgery costs and glaucoma treatment costs at iSIGHT Clinics.

Glaucoma Assessment with all diagnostics testing and consultant appointment: £450
Laser Treatment: £770
SLT cost per eye £775

Does Glaucoma Cause Headaches?

A frequently asked question by many of our patients is, “can Glaucoma cause headaches?” Glaucoma as been known as the “silent thief of sight” due to the lack of obvious symptoms early on in the stages of the condition.

POAG or Primary Open Angle Glaucoma does not generally cause headaches, however acute variations of glaucoma when the drainage system closes and your eye pressure increases significantly and this may cause headaches.

Neovascular glaucoma can cause headaches due to abnormal blood vessel growth over the drainage system. Angle-closure glaucoma can cause headaches during an attack due to eye pressure raising significantly until the drainage angle completely shuts close.

Can You Drive With Glaucoma?

According to Glaucoma UK, around only 12% of people lose their licence when diagnosed with glaucoma. There is usually nothing to worry about if diagnosed early, frequently using eye drops and implementing recommended glaucoma treatments from your doctor. You will need to inform the DVLA of your glaucoma if you have glaucoma in both of your eyes or if you are a commercial driver with any glaucoma which includes just in one eye.

Is Glaucoma a disability? Due to the fact that glaucoma usually doesn’t result in significant vision loss, particularly when glaucoma treatment is started early it is usually not considered a disability.

However, if you have more significant loss in vision and are more heavily affected in your day-to-day life you may be considered disabled and could be eligible for support, including benefits. For instance the disability blue badge scheme states that you are immediately eligible for a blue badge if you are registered blind or have severely impaired sight.

Glaucoma Treatment Lancashire & Merseyside

Looking for annual glaucoma treatment Merseyside or Lancashire? Here is what we can offer.

Glaucoma Risk Assessment
Visual Fields
Eye Pressure Checks
Ocular Coherence Tomography
Corneal Thickness Assessment

We are here to help if you require a glaucoma specialist Lancashire or Merseyside, please feel free to contact us directly with any further questions you may have.

Enquire for Glaucoma Assessment

How To Prevent Glaucoma from Worsening.

The first way to prevent glaucoma worsening is to start treatment early and diagnose the problem as soon as possible by getting an assessment. Glaucoma can be treated many ways depending on your specific condition and preferred care plan.

How is Glaucoma Diagnosed?

Tonometry (measuring intraocular pressure).
Dilated eye examination and image tests.
Vision loss tests (vision field test).
Pachymetry (measuring corneal thickness)
Gonioscopy (inspecting drainage angle)

Treatment of Glaucoma

Fortunately there are many approaches to treatment of glaucoma, including laser treatment for glaucoma NHS, glaucoma eyedrops, oral medicine, surgeries, therapies and glaucoma lifestyle remedies. We recommend you continue to implement your doctor’s advice to minimise the symptoms of your condition.