Symptoms to watch out for
Glaucoma is a disease that affects the eyes - the optic nerve in particular - and if not treated in time can also lead to loss of vision. This eye disease affects around 55 million people worldwide and it is very important to try to prevent it as much as possible so that sight is preserved. (Source: Humanitas Hospital Milan).
Glaucoma is caused by either increased internal pressure in the eye or, in limited cases, reduced blood supply to the optic nerve. The resulting damage leads to visual field loss, initially in peripheral portions and later in central areas of the visual field, impairing vision. Glaucoma can be caused by congenital forms, i.e. forms that already occur at birth, or non-congenital forms. What causes it, even in non-congenital forms, is a reduction in the function of the trabecular meshwork, which is responsible for draining the aqueous humour from inside the eye to the outside. If the trabecularis does not function as it should, an increase in pressure inside the eye occurs, which then causes damage to the optic nerve and thus leads to the development of glaucoma.
To try to prevent the onset of glaucoma as much as possible, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms it can cause. These include loss of side, top and bottom vision that can cause difficulty in reading, driving and moving around spaces. Regular eye examinations are a good way to prevent the disease also because increased blood pressure is not immediately felt with symptoms. Individuals who are most at risk of developing glaucoma, and who should therefore undergo regular examinations, are especially those who have already had a family history of glaucoma, people with visual field defects, people who suffer from high myopia or diabetes, and people who have been taking cortisone medication for a long time.
