Dr. Arvind Varma is a practicing ophthalmologist who runs a clinic in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Besides writing on common eye problems, Dr. Varma will also answer specific queries.

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How is Glaucoma detected?
Glaucoma can be detected by measuring pressures in the eye. This is a simple and painless test like measurement of blood pressure. If the pressure is beyond normal range, glaucoma is present. In some border line cases, additional tests like multiple measurements in a day, provocative tests or visual fields may be required to confirm or rule out Glaucoma.

All the tests are simple, non expensive and available in most eye clinics.

What is the treatment for Glaucoma?
If the glaucoma is secondary to any other eye condition, treatment of that condition itself may cure Glaucoma. In Primary Glaucoma, like its detection, the treatment of Glaucoma is also simple in majority of the cases. Once detected and confirmed, the treatment is conducted by administering eye drops to the affected eye(s). Some cases may need more than one type of eye drops. A few will need oral medications. All medications have to be taken on regular intervals. One may have to take them through life to avoid further damages to eye(s).

In intractable cases, in which pressures cannot be controlled by medications alone, laser and other types of surgeries are available for management. In some types of Glaucoma, medicines are nor effective. In such cases or where eye specialist thinks that a better control of pressures can be provided, laser or surgery may be advised as the first line of treatment.

Is it true that if Glaucoma surgery fails, multiple surgeries maybe needed to control Glaucoma?
Not Always. Like with any other surgery, no surgeon can guarantee a hundred per cent success. In a few cases, the opening created to drain out the fluid from the eye and hence decrease the pressures in the eye(s) does close soon after surgery or may be years after that. In such cases another surgery may be required. This untrue fear of the unknown should not stop one for undergoing surgery because if surgery is the only option and not undertaken, the blinding effects of Glaucoma are bound to occur.

What can be done to prevent visual loss due to Glaucoma?
Remember that visual loss due to Glaucoma is permanent and lost vision cannot be regained. The key to avoid visual loss due to Glaucoma lies in its `early detection and treatment’. A routine eye examination once in a year helps in its early detection. If one faces any of the aforementioned risk factors, or if one is beyond 40 years of age, s/he must undergo tests for detecting Glaucoma during eye examination.

Next fortnight Dr. Varma answers FAQs on Diabetes Mellitus—a condition in which the sugar, that is absorbed in the blood cannot be utilized by the body

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Other Articles By Dr. Arvind Varma

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• Understanding Glaucoma
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