Glaucoma is a very important cause of blindness all over the world   about 8 million people are blind today due to glaucoma hi USA and England 11 to 14% of all blind are due to glaucoma This is a blindness winch is completely preventable, if detected in time, but unfortunately because of lack of awareness and simple negligence a sizeable no of people are losing then sight winch can be retained throughout then lives.

Glaucoma is usually a slowly progressing disease It leads to a gradual atrophy of the optic nerve leading to complete blindness Once the optic nerve is fully damage there is no way one can restore it That is way an early detection is essential to stop this progressive disease.

Everybody over 40 years of age should get himself periodically examined for Glaucoma about 1.8% to 2.4% people above 40 to 45 years of age are prone to get this The percentage increases as the age increases

• What is Glaucoma ?
  Ans. Glaucoma is a disease of eye in which there is a gradual damage of the optic nerve, the nerve fiber responsible for vision, due to a variety of reasons with or without an increase in intraocular pressure.
  
  
• What happens in Glaucoma ?
  Ans. When an eye is affected with glaucoma, it gradually loses vision leading to a complete and irreversible blindness There is no medicine or surgery available so far once the vision is lost due to glaucoma So it is important to detect and treat it early Once a proper treatment is done one can retain the vision.
  
  
• What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
  Ans. Glaucoma can be acute chronic In acute glaucoma there is a lot of pain in the eye   headache, nausea and vomiting, a very red eye associated with a sharp in vision It is a medical emergency and if not treated in time a person can lose his eyesight permanently within 2 or 4 days
  
  
• What is chronic Glaucoma ?
  Ans. A Chronic Glaucoma is a silent killer Many A times a person may be having it for a long time, but it is totally unaware of it, till he has lost 75% to 85% of his vision, without any symptoms Sometimes a person dose not feels anything more than a little discomfort in the eye or a little gnttiness
  
  
• What are my chances of getting Glaucoma?
  Ans. Glaucoma is a familial disease. If somebody has glaucoma in the family it increase our chances of being glaucomatous by 5 to 25%
  
  About 2 to 3% of general population after the age of 40 years develop chronic glaucoma Diabetes, High blood pressure. Tobacco habit and some disease of the eye can cause glaucoma It is always better to get a periodical check-up by an eye surgeon after the age of 40 One should get liis pressure of the eyes checked up once in every 1/2 years to 2 years after 40
  
  
• Glaucoma always leads to blindness - Is it true ?
  Ans. No Only when detected very late it is difficult for an eye surgeon to save the eye But when detected in time this condition is well treated, mostly with the use of eye drops Sometimes one may need surgery when it is not controlled by medicines only The present glaucoma surgeries are highly safe and successful and one very rarely loses eyesight nowadays due to glaucoma
  
  
• What are the tests one needs to undergo in glaucoma ?
  Ans. Apart from up vision, one needs to check up his eye pressure (called intraocular pressure, IOP), check up of angles of eye (Gomoscopy) Field of vision (perimetry) is an extremely important tool for diagnosis and progression of the disease. It needs to be repeated 2 to 3 times in a year to see if the treatment is properly working. The doctor working. The should also see the status of the Optic nerve regularly.