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Glaucoma

Description

Glaucoma is a medical term used to describe a combination of disorders that damage the optic nerve. One of the leading causes of this damage is high fluid pressure inside the eyes. Glaucoma leads to blindness in majority of the patients and elder people are more prone to this unwanted outcome of glaucoma.

Causes

The fluid inside the eye normally drains through a channel. When this channel gets blocked, a build up of the fluid causes glaucoma.

Other causes include:

  • An injury to the eye
  • A very severe eye infection
  • Chemical injury
  • A block in the blood vessel of the eye
Risk factors

Common risk factors of glaucoma are:

  • Age above 40,
  • Family history of glaucoma,
  • Eyesight problems,
  • Poor vision,
  • Diabetic (raised blood sugar level),
  • Prolonged treatment with steroids like prednisolone,
  • Certain medicines,
  • Trauma to eye(s),
  • Thinning of cornea,
  • High blood pressure or heart disease.
Symptoms

It is possible for there to be no signs or symptoms at first. Vision loss usually starts from the edges, and so it is hard to notice.

  • Other symptoms include:
  • Redness in the eye
  • Eyes that appear hazy
  • Halos appearing around lights
  • Pain in the eye
  • A vision that seems narrow
Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, your doctor will take your thorough medical and family history, ask you to get some laboratory investigations done, perform an eye examination, and ask specific questions regarding your symptoms.

Management

The goal of treatment is to reduce fluid pressure inside eyes. This can be achieved with the help of eye drops, oral medicines, laser surgery, or microsurgery. The success of treatment is directly related to early communication of symptoms.

When to consult a doctor?

You are advised to consult a doctor if your condition worsens, there is no significant improvement in your condition, you start experiencing side effects from the medicines, you start experiencing visual disturbances, or there is a general feeling of discomfort and malaise (weakness).

Available Medicine for Glaucoma

Combigan

Rs.920

Alere

Brimson (0.2% 5mL)

Rs.741.71

Hudson Pharma's

Alphagan 0.2%

Rs.804

Wyeth

Azopt 0.1

Rs.1599.79

Novartis

Cosopt 2% / 0.5%

Rs.1683.68

OBS

Co-Dorzal 2 % / 0.5 %

Rs.1050

Sante

Trusopt 0.02

Rs.1522.14

OBS

Hilatan 0.00005

Rs.800

Himont

Latan 0.005%

Rs.684.29

Ethical Laboratories

Latep 0.005%

Rs.425

Schazoo Pharmaceuticals

Latim 0.005%

Rs.380

Optx Pharma

Prostilet 0.005%

Rs.605

Remington

Velatan 0.005%

Rs.600

Vega

Vislat 0.005%

Rs.762.6

Sante

Xalatan 0.00005

Rs.1796.4

Pfizer

Xalacom 0.005%/0.5%

Rs.1721

Pfizer

Travatan 40 micrograms

Rs.1404.76

Novartis

Travson (0.004% 2.5mL)

Rs.585.58

Hudson Pharma's

Travost 0.004%

Rs.590

Sante