Mr Akash Raj MBBS & MD (AIIMS), MRCS, DRCOphth, FRCS, FRCOphth, PG Dip (Distinction) Consultant Ophthalmologist, Glaucoma specialist and Cataract surgeon, Birmingham, Dudley, Midlands, UK

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease or neuropathy of the optic nerve(which connects your eyes with the visual centre in the brain). It is commonly but not always associated with raised intraocular pressure (IOP) which causes damaging changes to the optic nerve (appears as increased cupping/excavation at the centre of the optic nerve head) and this leads to progressive visual field loss, usually starting in the periphery and gradually spreading centrally. It is increasingly being realized that other factors - such as optic nerve head perfusion, are concomitantly responsible for optic neuropathy in adult glaucoma.

Even when central vision is still good, glaucoma may affect the vision needed for driving and getting about (for instance, seeing steps), it also affects the sense of brightness and contrast sensitivity (finer vision).

Raised pressure in the eye is due to an imbalance in the production of fluid in the eye (from the ciliary body behind the iris) and drainage of fluid out of the eye (through the trabecular meshwork which lies between the iris and the cornea). Excess fluid causes increased pressure that can lead to glaucoma.

About 60 million people worldwide and 480,000 people in England suffer from glaucoma. In the UK, it is estimated that 50% of people with glaucoma are not diagnosed! 

There are over a million glaucoma-related outpatient visits in the hospital eye service annually. Once diagnosed, people with glaucoma need lifelong monitoring so that any progression of visual damage can be detected.

Without appropriate treatment, the loss of visual field and vision gets worse over a period of many months and years. The aim of glaucoma treatment is to slow down this rate of deterioration of your visual faculties so as to aim to keep you seeing till the last days.

Once lost, sight cannot be restored, and controlling the condition, together with prevention, or at least minimisation of ongoing damage, is crucial to maintaining a sighted lifetime. Mr Raj's extensive glaucoma experience may be helpful in managing your glaucoma needs and in preservation of your sight.

Glaucoma video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLcw13LzpHI

Further information on Glaucoma:

Understanding Glaucoma: http://www.rcophth.ac.uk/page.asp?section=365