Glaucoma is a disease of the eye that damages the optic nerve and finally causes blindness. A rise in internal ocular pressure is the most common cause of this injury (IOP). Glaucoma comes in a variety of forms, each with various risks for people depending on their age, gender, and ethnicity. An optometrist can help you figure out which ones you’re most susceptible to. Glaucoma affects one percent of Americans, which means that 3 million or more people in the United States have a preventable ailment that can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Unfortunately, non-symptoms outnumber genuine symptoms, earning glaucoma the moniker “silent thief of the night” because you typically don’t realize what’s going on until it’s too late. However, there are three major glaucoma symptoms that can be recognized:

• Peripheral vision loss

• Sensitivity to contrast decreases

• Eye Irritation (for acute attacks)

Medication and surgery are used to treat glaucoma. In the United States, we usually start with pharmaceuticals and work our way up. The following are some of the treatments:

• To reduce the fluid production and increase fluid outflow, use eye drops.

• Pills that reduce fluid production while increasing fluid output

• Surgery to enhance fluid outflow and reduce pressure

• A stent is implanted during surgery to boost outflow.

• Laser surgery 

Screening for glaucoma

A thorough eye exam will determine whether you are at risk for glaucoma. Family history, intraocular pressure, and an examination of the optic nerve are all risk factors. If the doctor finds one or more of these characteristics concerning, it’s a red signal that you’re at a higher risk of developing glaucoma than others.

The ocular pressure check, which is done using a tonometer, is the most crucial test. The tonometer can be a probe that touches the eye’s surface or a “non-contact” tonometer that reads the internal eye pressure with a mild blast of air (the “puff test” – feared by many, but now you know why it’s necessary).

Treatments for glaucoma

Eye drops: Careprost

The Sun Pharma pharmaceutical company’s Careprost Eye Drop is primarily used to treat glaucoma, a condition that arises when too much pressure builds up inside the eye. Many additional significant eye problems can result from this pressure.

 Bimatoprost is an active ingredient in medicine. Careprost is exclusively for external use, and the dosage is determined by your eye condition and is usually prescribed by your doctor. Careprost Eye Drops can take up to 16 weeks to show complete impact and can take up to 4 weeks to show any benefit or improvement.

Dosage

Your doctor will determine the dosage of your prescription. Your doctor will determine the dosage of your eye drop. If you happen to instill more, that’s great. If you accidentally instill more than the recommended dose of this drug, wipe your eyes promptly with clean water and consult your doctor if the problem worsens. If you forget to take your Careprost dose, take it as soon as you recall, but do not double the dose to make up for it.

Holding the dropper close to the eye without touching it and gently squeezing the dropper to place the medicine inside the lower eyelid is the best technique to apply the eye drop. Make sure to wipe away any excess liquid.

Side effects

There are certain side effects associated with Careprost if you applied the dose wrongly or your eye isn’t able to accept the dose initially. These side effects are-

• Itchy eyes

• Pain in eyes

• Swelling and redness of eyes

• Darker skin color around the eyes

• Blurry vision 

• Conjunctival hyperemia

• Dark skin around eyelids

Fact check

• There isn’t much information available about the use of Careprost during pregnancy and nursing, therefore it should only be used after consulting with a doctor.

• Careprost Eye Drops have no significant effect on your driving ability, however, they can produce impaired vision after instillation, therefore you should avoid driving at that time.

• Although alcohol does not interact with this medicine in general, if you take it excessively, you should visit your doctor.

• Spreading the eyedrop all over your face and around your eyes can trigger unwanted facial hair growth.

• It is recommended that you remove your contact lenses before administering the drop to your eyes; after 15 minutes, you can put them back in.

• Careprost should not be used if you have had previous eye procedures, have a low heart rate or blood pressure, or if you have a respiratory condition.

• Careprost Eye Drops can cause dry eye syndrome in some people, so talk to your doctor if you’re having any problems with your eyes.

• Careprost is only available with a doctor’s prescription. If you try to self-medicate, you risk developing side effects that could harm your eyes.

• If you take any medicine in the same class as Careprost, such as misoprostol or dinoprostone, the interactions could cause your ocular pressure to drop too low.

• Consult your doctor if you are taking any other prescription medications, eye drops, herbal treatments, or supplements to avoid any serious side effects.

• Careprost must be kept in a safe environment. If the bottle cap is cracked or the dropper is crooked, don’t use it. When not in use, keep the bottle completely closed. Make sure no foreign particles get into the liquid because they can harm the eyes.

Laser treatments

If eye drops do not help your symptoms, laser treatment may be recommended.

A high-energy beam of light is carefully focused at a region of your eye to prevent fluid from accumulating inside it.

Types of laser treatments-

• laser trabeculoplasty

• cyclodiode laser treatment

• laser iridotomy

Laser treatment is done when you are awake. To numb your eyes, local anesthetic drops are utilized; you may feel a small pang of pain or heat during the treatment. After laser therapy, you may still need to use eye drops.

Surgery

In rare circumstances where eyedrops or laser treatment have failed, surgery may be suggested.

Trabeculectomy is the most common glaucoma surgery procedure. It entails removing a portion of the eye-drainage tubes to make it easier for fluid to drain.

References

https://www.2020onsite.com/blog/guide-to-glaucoma

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/glaucoma/treatments/