Have you experienced having haloes, blurred vision when you were in a movie theater?
Then you might have just been attacked by acute glaucoma!
Acute glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure suddenly increases and the person experiences pain. The person suffering from this attack will feel his or her eye becomes red, his cornea swells, his vision becomes blurred and he may see haloes around lights. The person may go through nausea and vomiting if the pain becomes so extreme due to high pressure.
The Source
This attack may occur in darkened rooms like movie theaters. Pupil dilates or increases in size when in darkened environments. The moment the pupil dilates, there is a maximum contact between the eye’s lens and the iris, narrowing the angle and causing an attack. Other sources of attack can be when a person is under stress and too much intake of variety of drugs like anti-depressants, cold medications antihistamines, and some medications to treat nausea..
The Attack
The attack is not a ‘one-shot deal.’ A person will not experience all the symptoms and suuferf pain during a single attack. Sometimes minor attacks occur. It can just be a slight blurring of vision or seeing of haloes, with or without pain or redness of the eyes. But when the patient goes to a well lit room or goes to sleep, the symptoms may also stop.
The Remedy
When one experiences an acute attack, treatment should be immediate or else eyesight can be permanently destroyed. The attack may be stopped using eye drops that will cause the pupils to constrict and will cause reduction of the eye fluid or aqueous production. Prostaglandins, beta-blockers and carbonic anhydrase eye drops may be applicable. Prostaglandins allow better outflow of fluids by relaxing the muscles in the eye’s interior structure, while beta-blockers and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors work by reducing the aqueous or the fluid production in the eye.
As soon the intraocular pressure decreases, the patient should see the doctor. Patients suffering from acute attack should undergo routine examinations. Doctors may conduct gnoiscopy, a technique used to predict one’s chances of having an acute attack. In this technique, a special lens with a mirror is placed in front of the eye and the width of the angle is examined. Narrow angles indicate early symptoms of acute attack.
One should take note that not all person who suffers acute glaucoma experience an acute attack. Some experience chronic attack wherein the iris gradually closes over the drain. Eye drops may prevent this attack to happen but it is still better that patients undergo surgery, especially laser surgery for better preventive measures.
For better precautions, they must be prepared for an acute attack. Glaucoma is not just a simple eye disorder for this could cause you to lose your vision. Have a healthy lifestyle. Take vitamins. Exercise regularly. Avoid stress. Do not ignore symptoms. Regularly consult a doctor. Follow the doctor’s prescriptions. These things will help you be prepared for an acute attack.