The cause of glaucoma is increased pressure inside the eyeball. This pressure is caused by a buildup of fluid in the front of the eye. Glaucoma can not only cause damage to the optic nerve, but is also one of the most common causes of blindness in the elderly.
Glaucoma sometimes does not cause any symptoms, so the sufferer does not realize that his eyes are starting to have problems. Eye nerve damage from glaucoma usually occurs gradually and often causes symptoms only when the condition is severe.
However, sometimes glaucoma can appear suddenly and cause severe symptoms, such as eye pain, severe headache, red eyes, nausea and vomiting, and visual disturbances.
Recognize the Causes of Glaucoma
Inside the eye, there is a fluid called aqueous humor. This fluid is in the vestibule and the back chamber of the eye, and serves to nourish the eye lens and cornea, maintain the shape of the eye, as well as protect the eye from dirt.
The fluid in the eyeball will be absorbed periodically so that it does not accumulate in the eye, so that the pressure inside the eyeball remains stable.
If drainage or absorption channels aqueous humor clogged, this will trigger a buildup of fluid in the eyeball. Over time, this buildup of fluid can cause increased pressure inside the eyeball and damage the optic nerve.
When the optic nerve is damaged, vision function will be impaired. In the early stages, people with glaucoma may not be aware of any disturbances in their visual function. This condition is often only realized when it causes severe visual impairment or even blindness.
Glaucoma Risk Factors
Until now, it is not known for certain the cause of blockage of the drainage channel in the eyeball. However, this condition is thought to be influenced by genetic factors. In addition, there are several other factors that can increase a person's risk of developing glaucoma, including:
- Over 60 years old
- Have a history of eye disease, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Suffering from certain diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart attack
- Have a history of surgery on the eye
- Taking certain drugs for a long time
Not only some of the risk factors above, glaucoma can also be caused by injury to the eye, severe eye infection, and inflammation of the eye. In certain cases, glaucoma can also occur in infants and children. This condition is known as congenital glaucoma.
Glaucoma treatment can be done by giving drugs to reduce pressure inside the eyeball, drugs to reduce the production of fluid in the eyeball, to surgery.
If left untreated, glaucoma can cause vision problems or even permanent blindness. To find out whether you have glaucoma or not, it is necessary to check with an ophthalmologist.
Regular eye exams are important even if you don't feel any complaints. The goal is that glaucoma and the causes of glaucoma can be detected early and treated as soon as possible before complications arise.
