World Glaucoma Day, celebrated on March 6 every year, may sound unfamiliar, but it is a "thief" who quietly steals our eyesight.
What is glaucoma doing on the sly?
Glaucoma is an ophthalmic condition in which the protagonist is intraocular pressure – a lesser-sounding small character. When intraocular pressure continues to rise, it can squeeze the optic nerve in the fundus, causing damage. Imagine if every blink in your life was like a miniature boxing to your optic nerve, and over time, even the toughest boxer would fall to the ground and the beautiful scenery would fade from your life.
The covert tactics of the "green" killer.
The "green" killer (named because glaucoma sufferers may see the green halo that surrounds the light) is cunning because it is always silent. In the initial stages, glaucoma has almost no symptoms. No pain, no redness, like a perfect spy, and by the time you realize it's there, it's probably too late.
As the disease progresses, the following symptoms may occur:
1.Progressive vision loss: Glaucoma can lead to a gradual impairment of the central or peripheral visual field, with blurred vision, loss of visual field, or dark areas.
2.Loss of marginal visual field: The edge of the visual field is initially affected, and the patient may notice that the object is not visible to the side or up and down.
3.Increased intraocular pressure: Glaucoma is often accompanied by an increase in intraocular pressure, and patients may experience eye pain, eye swelling, or headache.
4.Visual changes: Increased sensitivity to light, decreased contrast, abnormal color perception, etc. may also be symptoms of glaucoma.
5.Iridescence: In dark areas or when the eyes are tired, the patient may see rainbow-colored circles or halos.
6.Eye redness: People with glaucoma may have congestion or bloodshot whites of the eyes.
These symptoms may vary depending on individual differences, and early glaucoma may have no obvious symptoms, so regular eye exams are very important for early detection and glaucoma.
Early detection, early **: by what?
Although glaucoma is irreversible, it is completely controllable! The key is early detection and early **. Regular eye check-ups can help us detect abnormalities in time, especially for people over 40 years old or friends with family history, annual check-ups are even more urgent. is a common screening method for glaucoma:
1.Tonometry (tonometry).
Non-contact tonometer: Uses air pulses to measure intraocular pressure, which is fast and does not require contact with the eyes.
*Standard – Pugin's tonometer: Intraocular pressure is measured by touching the surface of the cornea.
2.Gonioscopy.
An angle lens or slit lamp with a special lens (eg, Goldmann triple lens) is used to observe the opening of the anterior chamber angle and to evaluate the type of glaucoma (open- or closed-angle).
3.Visual field test.
The use of an automated peripheral perimetry instrument, such as the Humphrey perimetry analyzer, to detect visual field defects is an important marker in the progression of glaucoma.
4.Fundus examination.
Observe morphological changes in the optic nerve disc (papilla), especially an increase in the indentation of the optic nerve disc, which may be typical of glaucoma.
5.OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography).
OCT can accurately measure the thickness of the optic nerve fiber layer, which is of great significance for monitoring the progression of optic nerve damage and glaucoma.
6.Corneal thickness measurement (pachymetry).
Because corneal thickness affects the measurement of intraocular pressure, it is important to know the corneal thickness to correctly determine intraocular pressure.
7.Corneal curvature.
This may have an impact on tonometry and should also be considered.
Screening recommendations. For adults over the age of 40, regular eye check-ups, which include glaucoma screening, are recommended.
People at high risk of glaucoma (e.g., family history, high myopia, etc.) should be screened more frequently.
It is important to note that a single screening does not establish a diagnosis of glaucoma and usually requires long-term follow-up and a combination of multiple test results. If you suspect that you are at risk of glaucoma or if you have symptoms (e.g., a gradual narrowing of the field of vision, seeing colored circles, etc.), you should consult a professional ophthalmologist in time.
What can we do to beat glaucoma?
1.Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Regular sleep schedules and moderate exercise are essential for eye health. Try to avoid staying up late for long periods of time, being overly tired, and being emotionally stressed, all of which can increase the risk of glaucoma.
2.Use your eyes wisely: Spending too much time or not doing it the right way can cause eye strain and increase the risk of glaucoma. We should arrange the time for study and work reasonably, and take a proper break from our eyes every once in a while, such as looking at the distance for 5 minutes every 45 minutes.
3.Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Both smoking and alcohol consumption can have adverse effects on eye health and increase the risk of glaucoma. Therefore, we should try to quit smoking and limit alcohol to protect our eye health.
4.Maintain eye hygiene: Pay attention to eye cleanliness and avoid rubbing your eyes with dirty hands to avoid eye infections. If you have an eye disease, you should seek medical attention** promptly to avoid worsening of your condition.
5.Regular check-ups: Regular eye exams are an important means of preventing glaucoma. Signs of glaucoma can be detected early through eye examination, and corresponding measures can be taken to avoid the deterioration of the condition.
6.Maintain a good state of mind: A good mood and emotional stability can help maintain good health, including eye health. We should learn to regulate our emotions and maintain a positive attitude.
Preventing glaucoma requires us to protect our eye health in an all-round way from various aspects such as lifestyle habits, eye usage methods, and health habits. At the same time, regular eye examinations are also an important means to prevent glaucoma.
Although glaucoma is scary, as long as we master the correct prevention and methods, we can effectively protect our vision. On this special day of World Glaucoma Day, let's speak out and spread the word of love. Tell the people around you to have an eye exam and share the knowledge of glaucoma prevention and treatment.