1.       Eye may be compared to a balloon which has some pressure or tension (approx. 10-20 mmHg).  High pressure inside the eye is called  glaucoma.

    2.       As an eye is non-expansile, high pressure  damages the optic nerve (nerve which behaves like an electric wire carrying all visual messages to the brain for visualisation ) situated at the posterior pole of the eye.

    3.       Unlike SAFED MOTIA, KALA MOTIA  damages the visual field and vision irreversibly unless cured in time.

    4.       In rare instances due to undue sensitivity of optic nerve, even normal pressure (10-20 mmHg) may damage  the optic nerve ("Low Tension" glaucoma).

    5.       Pressure inside the eye is maintained by a fluid (aqueous)  which is constantly formed and replaced inside the eye. High pressure (glaucoma) results either  due to excessive formation or impaired  removal of the aqueous. Impaired removal of the aqueous may be due to gross narrowing or microscopic oblitera­tion of the passages.

    6.       Glaucoma in early stages, if not due to gross narrowing of passages, can be kept under control by medicines alone. However if pressure is not controlled  by medicines alone, surgery to make alternate passage for filtration of aqueous is required.

    7.       If passage is grossly narrowed (called Angle Closure Glauco­ma, decision taken by doing Gonioscopy ) surgery or laser may be required right in the first instance to make an alternate passage.

    8.       If pressure and visual field damage is controlled by drug alone, they have to be continued throughout the life as in treatment for diabetes, because on stopping drugs, pressure will rise again.

    9.       If surgery is done, patient may not need to take any antiglau­coma medication thereafter.

  10.       Thus Glaucoma blindness is largely preventable with proper  and timely treatment.

  11.       Unfortunate part of this disease is that glaucoma is usually asymptomatic in early stages. Thus high degree of suspicion is usually required especially if the patient is more than 40 years of age, diabetic, has family history of glaucoma, needs repeated change of near glasses, has history of coloured  haloes (rings), has unexplained  headache or dullache around the eyes.

  12.       Initial glaucoma damage can sometimes be seen on visual field charting in which damaged areas are delineated.

  13.       Lastly, Glaucoma is a preventable  blindness, provided  if it is detected and  treated in time.