Glaucoma

Progressive blindness: no cure

Glaucoma is a group of complex eye diseases involving progressive damage to the optic nerve.

Affected people feel like they are looking through a tunnel that becomes increasingly narrower.

Glaucoma is often accompanied by high interior pressure in the eye.

Risk factors include:

• increasing age
• family history of glaucoma
• diabetes
• myopia

Glaucoma progresses without obvious symptoms and is often only detected after the optic nerve has been severely damaged.

Treatment is aimed at stopping further loss of vision; it cannot restore vision already lost.

Mohammed’s story

When Mohammed’s eye sight began to deteriorate, a local doctor told him he only needed glasses.

But his eyesight got worse – quickly.

“I was scared. So I did nothing for a year.

“I went to a special cbm eye doctor who told me I needed an operation, and fast. My blood pressure was so high that I would soon be blind.”

Finally, when it was almost too late, Mohammed went in for the operation to stop the glaucoma. While some sight has been lost, more has been saved.

“I am very lucky. I now advise people to have their eyes tested regularly.”

• According to the WHO, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world.
• More than 12% of all blindness is caused by glaucoma.
• There is no cure for glaucoma and lost vision cannot be restored.
• It is possible to halt further vision loss with medication and/or surgery. It is a chronic condition which must be monitored for life.

Older people are at higher risk but babies can be born with glaucoma.