The major blinding disease in Hong Kong is glaucoma. For every 100 adults over the age of 40, 2 have glaucoma. Early glaucoma is ignored because there are no obvious symptoms. By the time the patient realizes that there is a problem with the eye, the condition is quite serious.
【Cause】
Inside the eyeball, a clear fluid (anterior aqueous humor) circulates continuously. If the anterior aqueous humor is excessively secreted or the drainage is blocked, the pressure in the eyeball will increase, causing vision damage and even blindness.
【Symptoms】
(1) Blurred vision
(2) Ringed rainbow circles when looking at lights
(3) Eye pain
(4) Headache
(5) Red eye
(6) Nausea
(7) Vomiting
(8) Slowly decreasing vision
(9) Slowly narrowing the field of vision
【Treatment】
(1) Eye drops
(2) Oral medication
(3) Laser surgery
(4) Prophylactic laser (laser peripheral iridotomy) or medication to prevent glaucoma
【Prevention】
Glaucoma is not preventable and early diagnosis and treatment is the only way. High-risk groups should have regular eye examinations:
(1) Blood relatives suffering from glaucoma
(2) High myopia
(3) Diabetes
(4) Patients with other eye diseases (cataract, iritis, Diabetic eye, eye tumor, long-term use of steroid eye drops)
(5) People with cardiovascular/vascular disease
(6) Adults over 40 years old should have an eye examination every one to two years
