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Journalism of Courage
Glaucoma kala motia is a potentially blinding disorder of the eye. In contrast to cataract chitta motia, where lost eyesight can be restored by surgery, the loss of eyesight due to glaucoma is permanen. That is why it carries the connotation of kala or bad motia, otherwise it has nothing in common with cataract. Glaucoma is derived from Greek word Glaucomas meaning blue water. The eye, blinded by this disease, assumes a bluish-green colour.Tto a layman, glaucoma means rise of pressure in the eye. The water pressure in the eye is normally 13-17 mm. But even if it goes up to 21 mm, vision can be retained. The pressure may rise suddenly, giving rise to acute glaucoma, or gradually, as in chronic simple glaucoma.
ACUTE GLAUCOMA: It occurs above 40 years of age and is more common in women and persons who are long sighted. Those predisposed to this type of glaucoma carry a particular construction of eye from birth.
SYMPTOMS:
In the early stage, these symptoms occur off and on. Then they become more frequent.
When an acute attack occurs, the patient feels severe pain in the eye and head. An acute attack of glaucoma is commonly known as aul ka dard. There may be nausea and vomiting. Eyesight in the eye concerned is markedly reduced. The eye becomes red and eyelids are boggy and swollen. An acute attack is an emergency as it damages the eye to some extent and no time should be lost in seeking medical aid. As time passes, there are more chances of permanent loss of vision. Unfortunately, acute attacks usually occur in the evening or at night, when it is difficult to get help.
prevention: Before the acute attack, in the early stages of disease, a mature observer may notice coloured haloes around light bulbs in the evenings and consult an eye specialist. The doctor performs certain tests to confirm the diagnosis. A small hole is made in the periphery of iris, either surgically or by laser. If the procedure is successful, the patient is cured.
Once an acute attack occurs, the scenario is changes completely as it is an emergency. The doctor tries to soften the eye as early as possible and gives the patient medicine diamox. Eye medication is started along with intravenous administration of hypertonic solutions. After the acute attack is controlled, the patient is operated upon. Once one eye gets an acute attack, prophylactic preventive treatment of the other eye should be started simultaneously. Some patients get a bilateral attack. If left untreated for some length of time, the eye quickly goes permanently blind.
