Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness that damages the optic nerve and results in progressive vision loss. It is often asymptomatic in early stages. Glaucoma is controlled by lowering eye pressure through eye drops, laser treatment, or surgery. Regular monitoring is required long-term to preserve remaining vision as damage cannot be reversed. Risk factors include family history, age, eye injuries, and certain medical conditions. Early detection through eye screening can prevent vision loss from glaucoma.
Cost of cataract eye surgery at The Eye Foundation is affordable and deliver great results. Pave way to clear vision with Cataract eye surgery at The Eye Foundation.
A cornea transplant is an operation to remove all or part of a damaged cornea and replace it with healthy donor tissue. A cornea transplant is often referred to as keratoplasty or a corneal graft. It can be used to improve sight, relieve pain and treat severe infection or damage.
In cataract surgery, the lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed and replaced with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or IOL) to restore clear vision. The procedure typically is performed on an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay in a hospital or other care facility.
There are many factors that will determine the Cost Of Cataract Surgery. One of those factors is if they prefer a premium or standard intraocular lens (IOL)
LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common laser eye surgery to treat myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. The LASIK procedure reshapes the cornea which enables the light entering the eye to focus on the retina. During laser eye surgery, a computer-controlled excimer laser is used to remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the cornea. The aim is to restore normal eyesight, without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Get the best LASIK eye surgery from Dr Tony Fernandez Eye Hospital, Aluva.
Visual rehabilitation after pediatric cataract surgery Anuradha Chandra
Cataract surgery in a child is only a beginning to the long way of rehabilitating the child and helping the baby to learn to see and recognize and adjust to the world.
Cost of cataract eye surgery at The Eye Foundation is affordable and deliver great results. Pave way to clear vision with Cataract eye surgery at The Eye Foundation.
A cornea transplant is an operation to remove all or part of a damaged cornea and replace it with healthy donor tissue. A cornea transplant is often referred to as keratoplasty or a corneal graft. It can be used to improve sight, relieve pain and treat severe infection or damage.
In cataract surgery, the lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed and replaced with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or IOL) to restore clear vision. The procedure typically is performed on an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay in a hospital or other care facility.
There are many factors that will determine the Cost Of Cataract Surgery. One of those factors is if they prefer a premium or standard intraocular lens (IOL)
LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common laser eye surgery to treat myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. The LASIK procedure reshapes the cornea which enables the light entering the eye to focus on the retina. During laser eye surgery, a computer-controlled excimer laser is used to remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the cornea. The aim is to restore normal eyesight, without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Get the best LASIK eye surgery from Dr Tony Fernandez Eye Hospital, Aluva.
Visual rehabilitation after pediatric cataract surgery Anuradha Chandra
Cataract surgery in a child is only a beginning to the long way of rehabilitating the child and helping the baby to learn to see and recognize and adjust to the world.
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to your eye's optic nerve and gets worse over time. It's often linked to a buildup of pressure inside your eye.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends visual information from your eye to your brain and is vital for good vision. Damage to the optic nerve is often related to high pressure in your eye. But glaucoma can happen even with normal eye pressure.
Glaucoma can occur at any age but is more common in older adults. It is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.
Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is in its later stages.
It's important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure. If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented. If you have glaucoma, you'll need treatment or monitoring for the rest of your life.
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Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Better Vision
Symptoms
The symptoms of glaucoma depend on the type and stage of your condition.
Open-angle glaucoma
No symptoms in early stages
Gradually, patchy blind spots in your side vision. Side vision also is known as peripheral vision
In later stages, difficulty seeing things in your central vision
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Severe headache
Severe eye pain
Nausea or vomiting
Blurred vision
Halos or colored rings around lights
Eye redness
Normal-tension glaucoma
No symptoms in early stages
Gradually, blurred vision
In later stages, loss of side vision
Glaucoma in children
A dull or cloudy eye (infants)
Increased blinking (infants)
Tears without crying (infants)
Blurred vision
Nearsightedness that gets worse
Headache
Pigmentary glaucoma
Halos around lights
Blurred vision with exercise
Gradual loss of side vision
When to see a doctor
If you experience symptoms that come on suddenly, you may have acute angle-closure glaucoma. Symptoms include severe headache and severe eye pain. You need treatment as soon as possible. Go to an emergency room or call an eye doctor's (ophthalmologist's) office immediately.Causes
Glaucoma develops when the optic nerve becomes damaged. As this nerve gradually deteriorates, blind spots develop in your vision. For reasons that doctors don't fully understand, this nerve damage is usually related to increased pressure in the eye.
Elevated eye pressure happens as the result of a buildup of fluid that flows throughout the inside of the eye. This fluid also is known as the aqueous humor. It usually drains through a tissue located at the angle where the iris and cornea meet. This tissue also is called the trabecular meshwork. The cornea is important to vision because it lets light into the eye. When the eye makes too much fluid or the drainage system doesn't work properly, eye pressure may increase.
Open-angle glaucoma
This is the most common form of glaucoma. The drainage angle formed by the iris and cornea remains open.
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Glaucoma
1. How is glaucoma treated and managed?
remember to use your eye drop on the day of the eye
check-up
Glaucoma is controlled by lowering the eye pressure. This can
be achieved with eye drops or medications, laser treatment or
surgery. Treatment is individualized and regular monitoring is
required after successful control of the eye pressure. It is
important to know that pre-existing damage to the optic
nerve cannot be improved or reversed with treatment hence it
is important to have early eye screening to detect glaucoma.
Glaucoma treatment aims to preserve the remaining vision
and requires life-long monitoring. The eye specialist will
discuss the treatment options most suited for your condition.
do not miss your eye drops. If you are running out
eye drops, return to the clinic for a new prescription in
advance
Eagle Eye Centre has a comprehensive list of anti-glaucoma
medications available for controlling intraocular pressures
including the latest combination therapy eye drops. We
perform lasers for glaucoma including argon laser peripheral
iridotomy, laser iridoplasty, trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation and laser suturelysis after trabeculectomy. Glaucoma
surgeries performed at EEC include - trabeculectomy with
anti-metabolites; phaco-trabeculectomies (combined cataract
and glaucoma surgery) with anti-metabolites; glaucoma bleb
needling with anti-metabolites; glaucoma (bleb) revision
surgeries; and glaucoma drainage implants.
How do I use my eye drops?
Compliance to eye drops plays a major role in success of
glaucoma treatment and control of the disease.
Use your eye drops as instructed
If you have more than 2 eye drops to instill at the
same time, wait for at least 5 minutes before instilling
the next eye drop
you can minimize absorption through the nasal
passages by placing your index finger against the
inner corner of your eye (against the nasal bone) for
30 seconds
excess eye drops should be cleaned from the skin with
a moistened tissue or towel
time your eye drop with certain activities or set an
alarm to help you remember to instill your eye drop
everyday
bring your medications along for each visit to the eye
doctor
Inform the doctor if you have any problems with the
eye drops
When should I get an eye check for
glaucoma?
Early detection and appropriate treatment can prevent blindness in glaucoma. If you have any of the following, it is advisable to have an eye check done by an eye specialist:
Age 40 years and older
have a family member or relative with glaucoma
on steroid medications
had previous injury to the eye
had previous surgeries to the eye
have diabetes
have high myopia or high hyperopia
blurred vision
intermittent eye pain
known to have inflammation of the eyes
Laser Treatment for angle closure
Patients who are found to have narrow or closed drainage
passages (angles) of the eye are at increased risk of developing
angle closure glaucoma. In the acute situation, the eye
pressure increases suddenly, rising to a very high level. This
occurs as the eye fluid is trapped behind the iris at the pupil
and closes the drainage passages (angles) of the eye. There is
hence obstruction of outflow of the eye fluid, leading to
buildup of the fluid in the eye and an increase in the eye
pressure. Laser peripheral iridotomy helps to reduce the risk of
this ocular emergency. The laser creates a small fluid channel
in the periphery of the iris allowing the fluid from behind the
iris to flow forward and through the drainage passages of the
eye thus preventing a sudden rise in eye pressure.
The laser is done as an outpatient procedure. The eye is
prepared with eye drops to constrict the pupil and to anaesthetize the eye. Some patients may experience a transient eye
ache or headache or dimming of vision with these eye drops.
Eye drops or medications may be given to lower the eye
pressure before the laser procedure. A contact lens will be
placed on the eye during the laser procedure. The laser is
usually painless and an aching sensation may be felt in some
patients. The patient is seated much like the eye examination
at the slit-lamp in the clinic. The eye pressure is checked again
after the laser.
The laser procedure is not a surgery and requires minimal
after care. Eye rubbing should be avoided. The vision may
appear cloudy for a few hours after the laser. Eye drops are
required for 1 to 2 weeks after the laser. There are no restrictions to daily activities. Some patients may experience glare
symptoms after the laser. The possible risks of the laser include
increased eye pressures, damage to the surrounding eye structures like to the corneal cells that can result in loss of corneal
clarity later. Please approach your eye specialist if you have any
questions on this procedure.
Eagle Eye Centre @ Mount Alvernia
Mount Alvernia Hospital
820 Thomson Road, #02-10/17, Medical Centre Blk B, Singapore 574623
Tel: 6456-1000 / 6-eagleye (6324-5393) Fax: 6456-1006
Eagle Eye Centre @ Mount Elizabeth
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
3 Mount Elizabeth, #08-02, Singapore 228510
Tel: 6836-0001 Fax: 6836-0002
Eagle Eye Centre @ Parkway East
Parkway East Medical Centre
319 Joo Chiat Place, #05-03, Singapore 427989
Tel: 6348-1000 Fax: 6348-1001
Eagle Eye Centre @ Mount Elizabeth Novena
Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
38 Irrawaddy Road, #08-22/23/24, Singapore 329563
Tel: 6570-1000 Fax: 6570-1001
Email: eec@eagleeyecentre.com.sg
Website: www.eagleeyecentre.com.sg
GLAUCOMA
2. Chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the
world and accounts for 40% of blindness in Singapore. People
of different races and ages are affected by glaucoma. It is often
called the ‘silent thief of sight’ as patients often do not have
symptoms until in advanced disease. Early detection and
treatment will prevent irreversible visual loss and blindness
from glaucoma.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the optic nerve. The
optic nerve transmits visual information from the eye to the
brain. In glaucoma, there is characteristic damage to the optic
nerve resulting in loss of vision.
Steroid medication use - prolonged steroid use (eye
drops or medications) can cause raised eye pressures in
certain individuals (steroid responders)
High myopia and hyperopia
Inflammation of the eye
Advanced cataracts
Previous eye surgeries
The peripheral vision is usually affected first as the optic nerve
is progressively damaged in glaucoma. This is usually symptomless and goes unnoticed as central vision remains normal.
Later the peripheral visual loss progresses towards the center
leading to tunnel vision and in advanced cases central vision is
lost. The patient hence notices blurred vision late in the disease
when irreversible damage has already occurred.
The Optic Nerve
is Damaged in
Glaucoma
What causes Glaucoma? Am I at risk
of Glaucoma?
The major risk factor for glaucoma is raised eye pressures
(intraocular pressure). This occurs when there is an imbalance
of fluid production in the eye and its drainage from the eye.
The eye pressure at which optic nerve damage occurs varies
between individuals. Even in a population normal range of eye
pressures optic nerve damage can still occur.
Other risk factors for glaucoma include:
Age; Glaucoma can occur at any age. The risk of
glaucoma increases with age. In Singapore, 3% of
those over 50 years old and 10% over 70 years old are
affected by glaucoma.
Peripheral Vision is progressively lost in Glaucoma
Is Glaucoma inherited?
Glaucoma can affect members in the same family. Those with
a family member or relative with glaucoma (Family History of
Glaucoma) is at an increased risk of glaucoma and should have
glaucoma eye screening by an eye specialist.
T
ypes of Glaucoma and their symptoms
The different types of glaucoma include open and closed angle
glaucoma, secondary glaucoma and congenital glaucoma.
Family History - a family member or relative with
glaucoma can increase your chance of having
glaucoma
Open angle glaucoma
The drainage passage (angle) of the eye is structurally open in
Open-angle glaucoma and accounts for the majority of
glaucoma. This type of glaucoma usually has no symptoms
and progresses slowly. Early eye screening is the only way to
detect this type of glaucoma.
Eye Injury - a serious eye injury can cause glaucoma
many years later
Closed angle glaucoma
Occurs when the drainage passage (angle) is narrow or closed.
There is obstruction to the outflow and drainage of the fluid
in the eye leading to increase in eye pressures. This rise in
pressure can occur suddenly and rapidly, leading to damage of
the optic nerve. Acute angle closure glaucoma is an ocular
emergency and requires prompt treatment. Symptoms
include severe eye pain associated with headache on the same
side, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision and haloes around
lights and redness of the eye.
Chronic angle closure glaucoma may be asymptomatic where
the pressure rise is gradual like open angle glaucoma. Individuals with narrow or occludable angles are at risk of developing
acute angle closure glaucoma. Laser treatment in such cases
help to reduce the risk of sudden rise in eye pressures. See Laser
treatment for angle closure.
Secondary Glaucoma
This type of glaucoma is associated with diseases of the eye –
previous eye injury or surgeries; inflammation of the eye;
advanced cataracts and use of steroid medications. It can also
be caused by medical conditions such as diabetes. Patients
may experience eye pain, halos around lights, blurred vision
and red eyes in these conditions.
Congenital Glaucoma
Congenital glaucoma is a rare eye disease that occurs at birth.
An eye examination is required if the infant’s eye is found to be
enlarged, loss of clarity of the cornea, tearing and is unusually
sensitive to light.
What tests are done during an eye examination to detect and monitor Glaucoma?
The vision (visual acuity), the eye pressure, the drainage
passages (angles) and the optic nerve are assessed. The visual
field test is performed to detect glaucoma damage to the optic
nerve. This test also helps the doctor determine if the
glaucoma is stable or worsening. Optic nerve imaging tests
maybe used to diagnose and monitor glaucoma.
Automated Humphrey
Visual Field Testing
at Eagle Eye Centre
At Eagle Eye Centre, we provide a comprehensive service for
glaucoma screening and management. We have the latest
automated visual field machines, anterior segment imaging
and optic nerve imaging technology to diagnose and
management glaucoma.
Optic Nerve
Coherence
Tomography At
Eagle Eye Centre
Besides managing high pressure glaucoma, we also manage
Normal Tension Glaucoma or Normal Pressure Glaucoma.
At Eagle Eye Centre, we have a developed program to
diagnose and manage Normal Tension Glaucoma - tests
include phasing eye pressure testing, questionnaires, posture
eye pressure testing and use of our imaging technology.
Our Glaucoma
Specialist
Performing an
Eye Pressure
Examination