Overcoming Glaucoma, A Silent Cause of Blindness

Glaucoma is the most common cause of preventable irreversible blindness in the world, and the second leading cause of blindness in sub-Saharan Africa, behind cataract. While glaucoma is a problem worldwide, it can be particularly devastating in Africans because it starts an earlier age, progresses more rapidly, is diagnosed later, and is responsible for about a third of blindness. The good news is that blindness from glaucoma is preventable.

A Glaucoma Story: DJ planned to celebrate his 42nd birthday with a new pair of eye glasses. A busy lawyer, he has finally created time for a complete eye examination. “Both of your eyes have elevated pressure, but you’re lucky because the eye nerves have not been damaged”, said the eye specialist. “You have glaucoma and need to start using eye drops right away to lower the pressure”. DJ remembers that his grandfather was blind for the last ten years of his life, but never thought he was at risk for vision loss.

DJ is a lucky man. Glaucoma is a silent enemy and damages the eye slowly and often without warning. It is common for at least one eye to be irreversibly damaged by the time the patient gets to an eye specialist.   

What Causes Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is caused by a build-up of eye fluid (aqueous humor), leading to increased eye pressure that in turn damages sensitive eye nerves. The most common form of glaucoma (open-angle glaucoma) slowly damages the eyes without symptoms such as pain.

Ways to Avoid Eye Damage From Glaucoma

• Know your family history because glaucoma tends to run in families. A family history of unexplained blindness could be the clue that you have a genetic risk for glaucoma.
• Get regular eye examination after the age of 40 even if you do not have eye symptoms.
• Don’t ignore any eye symptom and don’t diagnose yourself. Glaucoma can cause intermittent blind spots or floaters, or decline in vision. There are other possible causes of eye symptoms that a doctor can help diagnose and treat such as cataract, diabetes, and age-related macular degeneration.
• Make sure risk factors for glaucoma such as high blood pressure and diabetes are avoided or well treated.
• Exercise regularly as this can reduce eye pressure and counter effects of glaucoma.
• If diagnosed with glaucoma, take prescribed treatment religiously and follow-up regularly.

Glaucoma affects millions of people worldwide, but most of them are unaware. Don’t fall victim to this common cause of blindness.