There are many kinds of eye diseases that humans are facing these days due to the rise of pollution, dust element in air, the glucose level in blood and whatnot. One such disease that is affecting a few of us is Glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye condition/ disease caused by having elevated pressure (known as intraocular pressure, IOP in medical terms) in the eye. If the pressure inside the eye is too high, it can damage the optic nerve leading to serious visual impairment or even blindness. This optic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers at the back of the eye that carries visual messages from the retina to the brain.
The vision loss due to glaucoma is irreversible hence it is very important to detect this disease at the earliest to preserve vision. In most of the cases, patients are not aware of glaucoma as they have no early symptoms or pain, therefore regular eye check-up is necessary to diagnose and treat glaucoma before you have permanent vision loss.
Below are the 5 common diagnostics tests for Glaucoma:
● Applanation Tonometry: The test is used to measure intraocular pressure inside the eye. Usually, drops are used to numb the eye and then a device known as a tonometer is used by the doctor or technician to measure the inner pressure.
● Ophthalmoscopy: The test is used to examine the damage (shape and colour) of the optic nerve of your eye. Eye drops are used to dilate the pupil so that the doctor can see through your eye using a small device with a light to an end to magnify the optic nerve.
● Perimetry: Perimetry is a procedure to determine whether your vision has been affected by glaucoma or not. It is a visual field test that produces a map of your complete field of vision. During this test, you will be asked to look straight ahead, and indicate each time the computer presents lights around the bowl. This way perimetry is able to provide a map of the visual fields.
● Retinal Nerve Fibre Analysis/OCT: The retinal nerve fiber analysis is the newer method of glaucoma testing in which the thickness of the nerve fiber is measured. The OCT (optical coherence tomography) instrument is used to create a contour map of the optic nerve, optic cup and measure the retinal nerve fiber thickness. It creates images using special beams of light.
We have discussed some of the important components of glaucoma. If you have any questions, feel free to book an appointment with the best ophthalmologist in India, Dr. Neeraj Sanduja. He is a renowned senior eye surgeon and vitreoretinal specialist practicing in Gurgaon and Delhi.
Our esteemed doctors, one like Dr. Neeraj Sanduja, say, anyone can develop Glaucoma, some are just at higher risk than others.
● People with a family history of Glaucoma
● Diabetics patients or people experience frequent headaches
● People who experience blurring vision or see haloes around light
● Everyone above the age of 40 years
Should take regular check-ups with the doctor. And, a regular eye check-up does not harm anyone!
Connect with us at +91-8448440121, if you have any queries. We at Viaan Eye & Retina Centre are happy to be of service.