Question

A 53-year-old man has been told by his ophthalmologist that his intraocular pressure is increased and that he will need to be treated for glaucoma. What is the pathophysiology of glaucoma? What are the options for therapy in this patient?

Answer 1

Glaucoma is a group of ocular diseases result in increases intraocular pressure due to a bulid up of aqueous humor inside the anterior chamber.The fluid compresses the lens into the vitreous body and puts pressure on the neurns of the retina.If the pressure continues ,there is a progression from mild visual impairement to irreversile destruction of neurons of the retina ,degeneration of optic disc ,and blindness,Glaucoma is painless,the other eye compensates to a large extent ,and a person may experience considerable retinal damage and visual loss .The gradual loss of visual fields may go unnoticed because central vision is unaffected..

Depending upon the clients conditions treatment can be started as per health care provider's order,it can be treated with medications to reduce intraocular pressure such as constricting pupils(miotics) ,to decrease the production of aqueous humor(carbonic anhydrase inhibitors),and to decrease the production of aqueous humor and intraocular pressure(beta blockers),laser therapy and surgerical options like trabeculectomy