What happens if glaucoma worsens?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Glaucoma, if left untreated or improperly treated leading to worsening, can result in blindness, which is referred to as absolute glaucoma. In such cases, it becomes impossible to recover vision; in other words, it is irreversible. Therefore, it is crucial to proactively treat glaucoma after its onset by reducing eye pressure to protect vision, adjusting one's mindset, resting adequately, and avoiding close-range activities. The treatment is generally quite successful nowadays. Glaucoma can be classified into acute angle-closure glaucoma and open-angle glaucoma, both of which are types of primary glaucoma. Additionally, it can be categorized into primary glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, and mixed glaucoma. With active treatment, the outcomes for glaucoma are generally good.

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What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterized by characteristic optic nerve atrophy and visual field defects, with pathological elevated intraocular pressure as its main risk factor. The main symptoms of glaucoma include blurry vision and blocked vision. Due to different types, it is also accompanied by other eye symptoms such as eye pain, eye bulging, foggy vision, as well as pain in the nasal root and head, and even nausea and vomiting.

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What should I do if diabetic complications cause blindness from glaucoma?

For neovascular glaucoma caused by diabetes, anti-neovascular drugs can be injected into the vitreous cavity to cause the regression of new blood vessels, thereby achieving the goal of reducing intraocular pressure. If not treated promptly, it can cause permanent closure or adhesion of the angle, and surgery is required for treatment. If the lens swells causing secondary glaucoma, it will lead to the closure of the angle. Surgery is needed to remove the cloudy, swollen lens to achieve a reduction in intraocular pressure. Diabetes is prone to various complications, and it is crucial to pay attention to diet and exercise in the presence of diabetes; meanwhile, it is essential to control medication to maintain blood sugar within the ideal fluctuation range.

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Written by Hu Shu Fang
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What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases characterized by increased eye pressure, leading to optic nerve atrophy and vision loss. The symptoms of glaucoma are mainly caused by increased eye pressure, resulting in eye pain. In cases of acute angle-closure glaucoma, symptoms include eye pain along with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and tearing, which can easily be mistaken for neurological diseases. Chronic glaucoma symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and vomiting, are less pronounced, and eye discomfort is also more concealed during attacks, making early detection difficult. Therefore, it is important for glaucoma patients to undergo early examination and diagnosis, and to receive appropriate treatment in order to protect the optic nerve and prevent severe vision loss.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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Glaucoma open angle vs closed angle differences

Primary glaucoma is clinically divided into two major categories: angle-closure glaucoma and open-angle glaucoma. The difference between them is that angle-closure glaucoma is due to a pre-existing abnormal configuration of the iris, leading to a mechanical blockage of the anterior chamber angle by peripheral iris tissue, which obstructs the outflow of aqueous humor, thus causing an increase in intraocular pressure. In contrast, open-angle glaucoma has a normal appearance of the anterior chamber angle, which remains open, and its increase in intraocular pressure is due to a pathology in the trabecular meshwork’s aqueous humor outflow system, increasing the resistance to aqueous outflow. Currently, the ratio of primary angle-closure glaucoma to primary open-angle glaucoma is about 3:1, making it the most common type of glaucoma in China.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
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How to deal with vomiting in glaucoma?

Nausea and vomiting caused by glaucoma should be actively treated with pressure reduction. Antihypertensive eye drops include Timolol eye drops, Brinzolamide eye drops, and Pilocarpine eye drops. If the effect is not satisfactory, oral administration can also be considered. Common oral medications include Acetazolamide, and systemic use of Mannitol. If necessary, anterior chamber paracentesis can be performed. This series of active treatments can completely control intraocular pressure and relieve symptoms. Eye symptoms mainly include redness, swelling, pain, foreign body sensation, burning sensation, vision decline, headache, nausea, and vomiting. (Please follow the doctor's orders when using medication.)