Glaucoma

Around half a million people in the UK have glaucoma – a condition where part of the eye called the optic nerve becomes damaged. There are glaucoma treatments available but the condition itself is not curable. Glaucoma can cause long-term visual problems or loss of vision if it isn’t caught early enough. Glaucoma treatments work for most people, but it is important that a person continues their treatment to avoid permanent sight problems.

Glaucoma is a big problem in developing countries, where people are undiagnosed and may have little or no access to treatment, resulting in a high risk of blindness from the condition.

Glaucoma becomes more common as we grow older, and if you have a close relative with glaucoma, you may have an increased risk of developing it yourself.

Being from an African-Caribbean or East-Asian background may also increase a person’s risk of developing glaucoma, and people from these backgrounds may develop it at an earlier age, although it is not understood why this is the case.

People with diabetes are also at an increased risk of developing glaucoma.

Many people do not realise they have glaucoma symptoms for some time before they seek help. Regular eye tests by an optician are the only way to find out if glaucoma is developing, and detect it early.

Glaucoma is actually a group of related conditions and there are different types of glaucoma.

Glaucoma causes mild to severe symptoms, with the possibility of vision loss if it is not effectively controlled with glaucoma treatments.

Watch this video to find out more about glaucoma.

The human eye produces aqueous fluid which causes pressure in the eye, ensuring it stays in the correct shape. Too much pressure, caused by the fluid not draining correctly, may damage the optic nerve and is usually what causes glaucoma. Some people do have a specific type of glaucoma which is not caused by increased pressure, and is instead caused by optic nerve damage.

Some people are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma, as the risk increases with age and is more common in people of African, Asian and Caribbean origin. It’s also more common in people who have existing sight issues, such as being short-sighted, or who have relatives with glaucoma.

Read more about how the eye works to help your understanding of glaucoma.

Here are the different types of glaucoma.

Angle closure glaucoma symptoms may come on much more quickly and be more painful than open angle glaucoma; the pain is likely to be much more severe.

If you think you, or someone you know, may have any symptoms of glaucoma that are listed here, you should visit an ophthalmologist for a check-up and glaucoma testing. If you have never had your eyes checked for glaucoma, you should make an appointment and have a test every two years. If you have a relative with glaucoma or you are in a higher risk group, you should have more regular testing.

Glaucoma diagnosis is usually first picked up during a routine eye test by an optometrist (optician). The standard tests for glaucoma include:

If an optometrist suspects you have glaucoma, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist, which is a doctor that specialises in eyes. This is usually a hospital based appointment where you will have further tests and, if required, a plan of glaucoma treatment will be devised for you.

Read more about symptoms of glaucoma and diagnosis of glaucoma.

Living with a glaucoma diagnosis will affect each person differently. Early glaucoma diagnosis can make all the difference in how effective glaucoma treatments are, and to the quality of life a person has. Many people will find that glaucoma does not limit their life and they can still do most of the things they used to.

Glaucoma may mean more time spent on hospital and optometry appointments. You may have to get used to putting drops in your eyes every day, or having more advanced treatment options such as laser treatment or, in worst cases, surgery. The latter may take time to heal and recover from and this is likely to affect daily life in lots of ways.

Some people find that their glaucoma symptoms include some visual impairment, such as difficulty seeing when the light is low or, oppositely, when it is a very bright day. These problems can often be solved by good lighting around the home, avoiding driving or walking alone in the evenings, or wearing tinted glasses or sunglasses.

Some people with more advanced glaucoma may also find they have issues with their vision that make hobbies such as reading, painting, drawing, playing sports, and so on, more difficult.

In the most severe cases, some people will experience vision issues that make it difficult for them to get around safely. For example, they may bump into things more regularly, or be put at greater risk of having a fall inside or outside the home. A number of daily tasks, such as preparing food, doing household chores, eating a meal, making drinks, using the bathroom or using the telephone, may all become difficult if a person’s glaucoma causes vision loss.

Healthcare Pro are experts in daily living aids – these are products that are designed to make everyday tasks easier for people who have mobility difficulties, vision loss, hearing loss, or other health conditions.

Here, we list a variety of products that some people may find useful if they have vision loss as a result of glaucoma (or another eye condition).

This is not an exhaustive list, and if you are looking for products that may help you, we have a team of Occupational Therapists at Healthcare Pro who can advise you on the products that will best suit your needs. Contact them by emailing productadvice@healthcarepro.co.uk or calling 0345 121 8111.

Glaucoma treatment will depend upon which type of glaucoma a person is diagnosed with and how advanced it is.

Eye drops are commonly prescribed which have to be used up to four times a day, and these work to reduce eye pressure. If a person has glaucoma, it is really important they keep up the eye drop usage and do not miss a dose, to ensure their sight is not affected. Some people find using eye drops to be strange or uncomfortable at first, but get used to it eventually.

If eye drops do not seem to be an effective glaucoma treatment, laser treatment may be used which involves a beam of light being directed into the eye to stop fluid build-up. This may involve making more holes to drain the fluid, opening the drainage tubes or making the eye produce less fluid by removing some of the liquid-producing tissue.

Surgery is also a possible treatment option if the other two treatments are not effective. This minor operation is carried out under local anaesthetic and involves removing some of the eye drainage tubes to make fluid drain better. There are risks involved and vision can be affected for several weeks afterwards.

Many people with a diagnosis of glaucoma are able to work as long as their vision is good and they keep on top of their treatment. Certain people may experience some sight loss and this may affect their ability to work – read more about sight loss from glaucoma and employment.

A healthy, balanced diet is important for everybody. Some research suggests that getting the right nutrition can help prevent glaucoma developing. Excess salt intake has been linked with glaucoma. High levels of fruit and vegetables, antioxidant foods such as green tea, foods rich in omega-3 such as oily fish and nuts, and staying hydrated are all important factors in a healthy glaucoma diet, or to help prevent glaucoma occurring.

Keeping to a healthy weight and getting regular exercise for glaucoma patients is important, as is quitting smoking, which is linked to an increased risk of glaucoma.

The NHS provide information on eating a balanced diet.

Glaucoma Support – a Facebook group for people living with glaucoma to share stories, advice and experiences

International Glaucoma Association Forum – online forum for people with glaucoma to share their experiences and talk about their situations, symptoms, treatments and vision

International Glaucoma Association – a charity that provides advice and information on all aspects of glaucoma as well as an online forum, research projects, free literature and a shop

NHS – provides official medical information on all aspects of glaucoma and related conditions

RNIB – UK charity for people experiencing sight loss or visual impairment and their families, featuring information on all eye conditions, including glaucoma, real life stories from people living with sight loss, factual information on practical issues, such as finances, and lots more support