Optic Nerve Damage to the Eye (Glaucoma)

Friends of Hermina, we need to realize that eye health is very important because the eyes are part of the five senses that we need to look after. One of the eye health problems that often arises is glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a disease that attacks the optic nerve. The function of the optic nerve is to send visual information from the eyes to the brain to maximize vision. Optic nerve damage occurs due to high eye pressure, but this condition can occur even with normal eye pressure. This eye condition can occur at any age, but is more common in older adults. Glaucoma itself is one of the main causes of blindness for people over 60 years old. Often glaucoma shows no symptoms. This disease is progressive where sufferers may not be aware of changes in vision until they experience blindness. Therefore, it is important to have regular eye examinations that include measuring eye pressure. Specifically, the cause of glaucoma is an increase in intraocular pressure due to the production of aqueous humor fluid in the anterior chamber (a clear fluid in the eyeball that is continuously produced by the ciliary body).

Glaucoma is divided into several types based on the cause, namely:
- Open angle glaucoma: is a type of glaucoma that occurs because the trabecular meshwork channels (aqueous humor drainage channels) are partially blocked.
- Angle-closure glaucoma: a type of glaucoma that occurs because the trabecular meshwork channels are closed or completely blocked. This type of glaucoma is often found in Asian people.
- Congenital glaucoma: caused by abnormalities that occur in newborns or congenital conditions.
- Normal pressure glaucoma: is a part of open angle glaucoma where damage to the optic nerve occurs even though the pressure in the eyeball is within normal limits. Usually, this type of glaucoma is influenced by hematological abnormalities or poor blood flow.
- Secondary glaucoma: caused by complications from another disease, such as diabetes or hypertension. Or, secondary glaucoma can also be caused by the use of certain drugs such as steroids.

Glaucoma Symptoms

Symptoms of glaucoma are divided into acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute glaucoma are red eyes, blurred vision, pain in the eyes and head which can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In chronic glaucoma there is high eye pressure with a narrowed visual field such as peering through a hole or constricting to form a tunnel.

Glaucoma treatment is usually carried out based on 3 methods, including:

1. Use of drugs

Patients will usually be prescribed certain medications by a doctor. There are two types of medicine that can be given, namely eye drops and oral medicine.

2. Eye laser

This eye laser is performed to help increase the release of aqueous humor fluid from the eyeball. The two types of laser procedures used to treat glaucoma are trabeculoplasty and iridotomy.

3. Surgical Operations

Surgery will be performed as a last resort if the use of medication and laser treatment cannot reduce the severity of glaucoma. This operation aims to create another pathway for aqueous fluid to exit the anterior chamber more easily.

Glaucoma Prevention

It is important to know that we can do several things to prevent glaucoma, including maintaining eye health from the start by consuming foods that contain vitamin A.

Routine eye health checks so that eye problems such as glaucoma can be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. The time period that experts recommend for having an eye test is at least every 2 years.

Use eye drops that your doctor prescribes regularly. Glaucoma eye drops can significantly reduce the risk of high eye pressure progressing to glaucoma.

Serious eye injuries can cause glaucoma. So, use eye protection when exercising or when working with heavy equipment.

Immediately consult your eye health regularly with an Ophthalmologist so that you can detect early if there are problems with your eyes.

Healthy Greetings



Source: AAO, FKUI