Increased Awareness Of Glaucoma

Some organizations around the world are raising awareness about glaucoma, and the goal is to reduce its impact on the population. This is because the disease leads to poor drainage of the aqueous humor, which increases the volume of fluid in the eye and the pressure in the interior of the eye rises as a result.

The impact of this condition on the health community is enormous, as it is the fourth leading cause of vision loss, affecting more than 8 million people worldwide. Fortunately, however, around 90% of cases triggered by the disorder are reversible when detected early.

International Glaucoma Week

The reason for this incident is to raise awareness about the disease and its harmful effects. In addition, it encourages the population to check visual health through periodic examinations. All to increase the proportion of early discoveries.

What are the goals of this event?

The goal of the International Glaucoma Week is exactly what their slogan says: “to focus on glaucoma” and also to target different sectors. In turn, their main goals are:

• to publish the risk of glaucoma
• to raise awareness of the importance of regular surveys
• to provide information on the risk groups that should pay special attention to this disease
• Finally, to make people aware of the need for timely treatment

Activities

These continue to increase over the years. Among the initiatives that have the greatest presence and impact on the population are congresses. This is where specialists present advances in the treatment of glaucoma. They also organize campaigns on social networks and in various media so that relevant information reaches all sectors.

No less important, there are free examination days in different countries for early detection of glaucoma. This strategy draws attention to the campaign.

Risk groups for developing glaucoma

Diagnosis as early as possible will always be an advantage so that glaucoma cases do not reach critical levels. In addition to this, understanding who is part of the risk groups can provide a differentiated and effective follow-up.

In this connection, the following scenarios are kept in mind when it comes to risk assessment:

• to have diabetes
• to be over 60 years old
• myopia
• to have close relatives with glaucoma
• to be of African origin (estimates indicate that Africans have thinner corneas than the rest, and that such thinness tends to increase the pressure in the inner eye)
• farsightedness

The importance of early diagnosis

Since the initiative for the International Glaucoma Week, specialists recommend that the eye examination be done every 2 years. The importance of early diagnosis is that although it is not possible to restore the lost vision, the treatments can reduce the worsening.

Most cases of glaucoma that are detected in time do not end up harming the person’s quality of life. In addition, it gives the doctor more time to decide on the best possible approach.

Professionals recommend that eye health follow-up is constant after the age of 40, regardless of whether you are in the mentioned risk group or not.

Available treatments for glaucoma

These depend on the patient, and doctors may prescribe drops, laser surgery or use filtration techniques. Thus, the available approaches for glaucoma are:

• drops such as prostaglandins, beta-blockers, alpha-adrenergic agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, rho kinase inhibitors, and both miotic and cholinergic compounds
• oral medication as a supplement for the regulation of eye pressure, but only when necessary
• surgery includes trabeculectomy (opens a way for drainage of the aqueous humor) and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, known as MIGS

• laser therapy, a selective laser trabeculoplasty used for open-angle glaucoma

Living with glaucoma

A new stage of adaptation arrives after a glaucoma diagnosis and the treatments defined by the specialist are taken up. The International Glaucoma Week makes a good contribution to this issue in this regard.

Consultations can take place weekly or monthly, depending on the control of the pressure in the inner eye. Therefore, communication and trust with the doctor are transcendental factors for living with glaucoma, since it will allow you to adjust in time.

In addition , you need to keep track of all the medications you use or have used in the past, and the response you have received from each of them. This is regardless of whether the doctor has the overview As you can see, the patient’s involvement will never hurt.

Here are other general tips:

• Maintain proper eye hygiene
• Do not rub your eyes, even if you feel discomfort from the medicine
• Wear sunglasses for activities that allow it
• Reduce stress episodes and emphasize emotional stability to meet situations of imminent blindness
• Maintain communication with the environment
• Maintain a normal life with the usual activities (this is based on the indisputable premise of taking care of the eyes in the face of circumstances that represent a risk)

International Glaucoma Week raises awareness and encourages consultation

This incident is just a reminder of the importance of sight, its inevitable care and early detection of problems. Furthermore, a common recommendation is to undergo an examination every two years to check the condition of the optic nerve.

Finally, if you have glaucoma, it is best to supplement your regular activities with healthy habits that protect your eyesight. For example, you can do the latter by using allergy-friendly products. “Do not lose sight of glaucoma!”