What is the relationship between Diabetes and Glaucoma?
The relationship between diabetes and open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma), has intrigued researchers for years. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as are non-diabetics, although some current research is beginning to call this into question. Similarly, the likelihood of someone with open-angle glaucoma developing diabetes is higher than that of a person without the eye disease.
Neovascular glaucoma, a rare type of glaucoma, is always associated with other abnormalities, diabetes being the most common. In some cases of diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels on the retina are damaged. The retina manufactures new, abnormal blood vessels.
Neovascular glaucoma can occur if these new blood vessels grow on the iris (the colored part of the eye), closing off the fluid flow in the eye and raising the eye pressure. Neovascular glaucoma is a difficult disease to treat. One option is laser surgery to reduce abnormal blood vessels on the iris and on the retinal surface. Recent studies have also shown some success with the use of drainage implants.
Glaucoma and Diabetes
Glaucoma is caused by excess fluid pressing on the nerve at the back of the eye
Glaucoma may occur amongst people with and without diabetes, and can be a complication of diabetes if retinopathy develops.
Glaucoma is caused by an excess amount of fluid pressing on the nerve at the back of the eye.
How does glaucoma start?
The eye produces a small amount of fluid like water in its middle chamber, which flows around the lens of the eye into the front chamber.
The fluid leaves the eye using a drainage network and then enters the bloodstream.
Commonly, glaucoma causes the drainage system to become blocked, and fluid becomes trapped in the eye. This causes pressure to build up in the eye and pass to the nerve at the rear of the eye.
This nerve may become damaged by glaucoma.
What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
Glaucoma has very few symptoms in its early stage, so people may be unaware that something is wrong with them. As someone with diabetes, an optometrist or another eye specialist should test you for glaucoma at least once each year.
How is glaucoma diagnosed?
Glaucoma may be diagnosed by an optometrist by measuring your eye pressure, checking the eye at the optic nerve, and testing the field of your vision.
A common test these days is a noncontact tonometry test (NCT test) in which a brief puff of air will be directed into the front of your eye. The machine you sit in front of measures the resistance of your eye to the puff of air without needing to make contact with your eye. The puff of air is noticeable but is not painful.
Experts will quickly be able to determine if you have glaucoma.
How is Glaucoma Treated?
Glaucoma will usually be treated with eye drops to relieve pressure in the eye. Treatments include:
Beta blockers (such as betaxolol hydrochloride, levobunolol hydrochloride or timolol)
Prostaglandin analogues (such as latanoprost, bimatoprost , tafluprost or travoprost)
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (such as brinzolamide or dorzolamide)
Your healthcare professional will be able to advise you further on the most suitable drops for your condition.
Alternative treatments include laser treatment (laser iridotomy) and trabeculectomy surgery.
What is the worst case scenario, will I go blind?
In developed stages of glaucoma, poor vision starts to spread, which can extend to include the whole of the sight.
If the pressure of glaucoma can be successfully eased, however, the condition should not deteriorate further. Should your vision become significantly impaired, there are a number of aids which can help people with diabetes who have visual impairment.
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