Understanding Glaucoma in the Elderly: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

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Understanding Glaucoma in the Elderly: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

By Alpro Pharmacy

June 26, 2024

People with glaucoma have optic nerve damage from fluid buildup in their eye. It is the second leading cause of blindness in the world after cataract. Hence, early detection and treatment can often protect against serious vision loss, making understanding glaucoma particularly important for the elderly population.

Causes of Glaucoma

The primary cause of glaucoma is increased intraocular pressure (IOP) or simply high pressure within the eye ball. In most cases, this is due to fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. This extra fluid puts pressure on your eye, gradually damaging your optic nerve. Untreated glaucoma or poorly managed glaucoma can lead to permanent and irreversible vision loss and blindness. There are several type of glaucoma seen in adult population – open-angle glaucome which is the most common, closed angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma. Yes, glaucoma may still happen in people with normal eye pressure!

Several factors can contribute to the development of glaucoma, particularly in the elderly:

Age: People over 60 are at higher risk.
Genetics: A family history of glaucoma significantly increases the risk.
Medical Conditions: Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and sickle cell anemia can increase the risk.
Eye Conditions: Severe eye injuries, retinal detachment, eye tumors, and inflammation can also lead to glaucoma.
Prolonged Use of Corticosteroids: Extended use of these medications, especially eye drops, has been linked to increased risk.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” because it typically has no symptoms in its early stages. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms become more apparent, including:

Severe Eye Pain with red eyes and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting
Patchy Blind Spots in peripheral (side) or central vision, often in both eyes.
Tunnel Vision in advanced stages.
Sudden Onset of Visual Disturbances including blurred vision and halos around lights

Diagnosis of Glaucoma

Early diagnosis of glaucoma is crucial to prevent significant vision loss. Regular comprehensive eye exams are the best way to detect the condition early. A thorough glaucoma evaluation includes several tests:

Tonometry: Measures the IOP
Ophthalmoscopy: Examines the shape and color of the optic nerve
Perimetry: Tests the complete field of vision
Gonioscopy: Examines the angle in the eye where the iris meets the cornea
Pachymetry: Measures the thickness of the cornea
Optical coherence tomography (OCT): to look for changes in your optic nerve that may indicate glaucoma

These tests help in determining not just the presence of glaucoma, but also its type and severity.

Treatment Options for Glaucoma

While there is no cure for glaucoma, treatment can often halt further vision loss. The main goal is to lower the IOP. Treatment options include:

Medications: Prescription eye drops are often the first line of treatment. They either reduce the formation of fluid in the front of the eye or increase its outflow, lowering the IOP.
Oral Medications: When eye drops alone don’t bring the IOP down to the desired level, oral medications can be added.
Laser Surgery: Techniques like trabeculoplasty, iridotomy, and cyclophotocoagulation can help fluid drain out of the eye.
Microsurgery: Trabeculectomy is a procedure where a new drainage channel is created to ease the intraocular pressure.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): This is a newer category of surgical procedures that aim to reduce IOP with less risk and faster recovery times compared to traditional surgeries.

Living with Glaucoma

Bad news is, there is no cure for glaucoma. The good news is you can manage symptoms and stop the disease from getting worse. Managing glaucoma involves regular follow-up appointments to monitor the condition and adjust treatment as necessary. Adhering to prescribed treatments and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, can also help manage the condition. It is equally important for elderly patients to seek support, as dealing with a chronic condition can be emotionally challenging.

In conclusion, understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for glaucoma is crucial, especially for the elderly. Early detection through regular eye examinations can significantly reduce the risk of severe vision loss. Always consult your family doctor early for any vision disturbances or eye discomfort. With appropriate treatment and management, individuals with glaucoma can maintain their quality of life and preserve their vision.

Need More Information? Talk to Our Expert!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Alpro ePharmacy or visit the nearest Alpro Pharmacy. Our team, consisting of pharmacists, doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists, audiologists and dietitians, is ready to assist and provide support.