WORLD GLAUCOMA WEEK, 2022
World Glaucoma Week(WGW) is a unique initiative that puts a spotlight on Glaucoma as the leading cause of preventable irreversible blindness world wide.
The theme for this year's event is
"The World is Bright, Save Your Sight".
The theme reflects the hope that with regular testing and eye check ups, people continue to see the world around us: full of beauty, charm, and adventure. The world is bright, save your sight.
As we all know eye defects are one of the major health issues everyone treat very delicately, it's not something anyone can treat anyhow or self medicate.
Because blindness is one of, or even the worst sickness in the world, it renders one handicapped, immobilized, hampers most of the human sense of light and sight and leaves the person independent throughout life.
This is why this campaign to raise a light on this silent sight killer is very important, it's aimed at using any medium possible to bring to people some few knowledge about this eye defect condition that can cause irreversible blindness.
As the program seeks to bring this knowledge to people through any medium possible, I believe it will be very good to join hand in the awareness program for the year 2022 here on #hive.
I will highlight the possible causes of glaucoma, visual effects/symptoms, risk factors, management and all you need to know about glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve (which serves as a channel for visual signals/information from the eyes to the brain).
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness, but with early detection and treatment, the damage may get limited and sight may be saved.
Glaucoma is often described as the silent thief of sight
The leading cause of glaucoma is high pressure of the optic nerves, this damage the optic disc and gradually cause an irreversible blindness if not treated on time.
The optic disc has a center portion called the "cup" which is normally quite small in comparison to the entire optic disc.
In people with glaucoma damage, because of increased pressure in the eye and/or loss of blood flow to the optic nerve, these nerve fibers begin to die. This causes the cup to become larger in comparison to the optic disc, since the support structure is not there. Optic nerve cupping progresses as the cup becomes larger in comparison to the optic disc.
However, there other health conditions which can directly or indirectly expose one to glaucoma/increase this pressure in the optic nerves.
This conditions include;
Diabetes- remember in my last blog gestational diabetes, I mentioned blurry vision as one of the symptoms of diabetes, this happens most especially when the glucose level is very in the blood that there's an excess supply to the brain, in this case the brain cell becomes unable to handle all the supply of the glucose present. This tend to exert a pressure on the brain cells causing some impairment, which directly or indirectly affect the optic nerves connecting to the brain.
Stress does not cause glaucoma, but tends to enhance the it effects on people who already have glaucoma.
When the body is stressed, the whole body tends to be affected, the affect people who're already having impairment in their optic nerves.
It has been confirmed from individual experiences that sometimes glaucoma does not show any sign while causing harm in the eye, sometimes it comes with some symptoms which may include;
Loss of side or peripheral vision :(usually the first sign).
Observing halos around lights: this may present you with being unusually sensitive to light or most times seeing a rainbow-colored circles around light
Whitening of the cornea.
Tunnel/narrowed vision.
Redness of the eye
Eye pain.
Severe headaches.
Vision loss: (usually when it happens suddenly).
The risk factors that may be associated with the development of glaucoma include;
Age: people over 60 years of are at higher risk of developing it.
People who're severely nearsighted (myopic patients)
People with known history eye trauma or injury
People with high intraocular pressure and
People with family history of eye issues
Three factors to certify you are Glaucoma free:
-Your Visual field is not restricted
-Your Optic Disc/nerve is normal
-Your Intraocular Pressure (IOP) is within d normal range.
For the treatment, (usually for all eye issues) visit an eye specialist doctor.
Glaucoma causes irreversible blindness which can not be treated. But on an early notice and management, the blindness can be stopped or limited.
The best way to avoid glaucoma and to manage your eye health in general include:
Alway see an eye doctor, get tested, and evaluate the state of your eye at least once in a year or anytime you feel unusual sight condition.
Avoid self medication especially when it comes to your eye issues.
Avoid the use of glasses with lens especially when it's not medically recommended.
Don't stress your eyes too much, avoid every bright source of light coming directly into your eyes.
Always nurish your self with foods containing vitamin A or rather get it from nearby pharmacy shop and use always.
Take more of fruits, vegetables and water, they help calm and relax internal body pressures
Get enough rest always and avoid dehydration at all cost.
Let us make this year's World Glaucoma Week, a very engaging and impactful one.
Go to any eye clinic/hospital near to get evaluated.
Together, we shall join hands to enable others see a bright world through good sight.
#WorldGlaucomaWeek
From this part of the world (Nigeria), it's powered by the Nigerian Optometric Association
Reference:
What is the first sign of glaucoma ?
Glaucoma - Symptoms and causes