Glaucoma is a condition that affects your eye’s optic nerve, causing loss of vision. This nerve connects your retina to your brain, so without it, you would only see blackness even if the iris and pupil were open. We explain in more detail what glaucoma is on this page; https://www.drchelvinsng.com/.

Now, the most common glaucoma type is primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). There are usually no early symptoms for POAG and the damage progresses gradually over time. You may not notice anything different until there is already some significant vision loss. 

Generally, those affected will first experience peripheral vision loss, which comes on suddenly and doesn’t affect their central vision directly; they won’t know what has happened until they go to read something or see an object in front of them (they won’t be able to see it without looking a certain way). 

By the time central vision loss occurs, they will already need to get used to using their peripheral vision to compensate. In its early stages, glaucoma is painless and silent. You can’t feel it or see that your vision is being affected, but the damage may be occurring without you knowing about it. More than 40 percent of blindness cases in Singapore are attributed to Glaucoma! That is why you should be checked on a regular basis if you are at risk.

A comprehensive eye exam is your best chance for early detection and management to slow the progression of damage caused by glaucoma. While there are no major or minor symptoms that can be associated with glaucoma, many people do experience some changes in their vision, which may include:

• Blurred vision
• Halos around lights at night
• Flashes of light
• Loss of peripheral vision

These changes, however, occur gradually, so pay attention to any sudden changes you experience because early diagnosis allows treatment and management before a further visual loss occurs.

What about the advanced symptoms of glaucoma? 

There are also advanced symptoms you may need to be aware of. Common examples that may warrant an appointment with an ophthalmologist for glaucoma treatment in Singapore include;

• Blind spots in your vision
• Eye pain or discomfort when looking at bright lights (photophobia)
• Decreased sharpness of vision, especially straight ahead (visual acuity)
• Difficulty judging distance and depth (stereopsis)
• Double vision.

If these symptoms persist for more than a few days, see an eye doctor immediately because you could be experiencing eye damage due to glaucoma. Remember that other conditions may also cause these symptoms, so get yourself checked before self-diagnosing your condition! 

Taking care of your eyes is important if you want to retain your sight well into old age. Glaucoma is treatable, but you must take regular comprehensive eye exams for early detection so that treatment can be started as soon as possible before serious damage is done.

How does Glaucoma affect your Vision?

When there is more fluid than usual building up on the front of the eye, it causes an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). It’s this increased pressure that damages the back of the eye, including your retina and optic nerve. 

The damage can happen so quickly that you won’t even know until significant vision loss affected by glaucoma has occurred. There are two parts to glaucoma: open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. In both types, there is fluid build-up on the front of the eye, which causes an increase in IOP.

In open-angle glaucoma, high pressure occurs slowly over time due to a gradual build-up of fluid behind your eye’s lens and iris, which narrows the space where its nerve endings connect with your retina. This damage then affects your central vision as well as peripheral vision. 

You may not be able to see objects clearly straight ahead of you, but you won’t notice this until some serious damage has been done since it happens gradually over time with no pain or discomfort until late on when significant visual loss has occurred from glaucoma. In angle-closure glaucoma, the iris is abnormally shaped and blocks drainage holes or angle structures in your eyes. 

This interrupts normal fluid drainage, which then causes an increase in pressure that gradually damages the optic nerve until you start having visual disturbances such as halos around lights at night, flashes of light, loss of peripheral vision, and blurred vision. It can be very painful but also happens quickly, so any symptoms should not be ignored.

How can you Prevent Glaucoma from Progressing?

Glaucoma does not cause pain and is often symptomless, so the only way to detect glaucoma is by getting a comprehensive eye examination at optometrists or ophthalmologists; no blood test exists for glaucoma. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, there’s no cure, and it can’t be reversed, but early detection means treatment and management can slow down the progression of nerve damage and preserve your vision. 

It is not possible to repair damage to the optic nerve after it has occurred. If diagnosed, the treatments for glaucoma in Singapore vary depending on whether you have POAG or another type of glaucomas, such as angle-closure (ACG) or congenital/infantile glaucoma. 

Eye drops are used to decrease the amount of fluid build-up in your eyes which reduces pressure on the optic nerve and keeps your eyesight healthy. As glaucoma progresses, surgery may be necessary to prevent permanent loss of vision or blindness.

What are the Risks Associated with Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a major cause of irreversible blindness not only in Singapore but also globally. In Singapore, it is the second most common reason for blind registration. And yet it can be prevented and managed with regular eye examinations, which means early detection and treatment is key to slowing down the progression of this condition.

If you suspect that you or your family members may have glaucoma, then visit a retinal specialist as soon as possible for an assessment. The earlier you are diagnosed with glaucoma, the better chance of preserving your vision by undergoing regular comprehensive eye exams, which will help slow down its progress through early detection and management. The risks increase if you have other underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of glaucoma.

Final Words

Even though glaucoma has no major or minor symptoms, it changes our vision gradually, and we may not notice them until some severe damage has been done. Regular eye examinations help detect and slow down glaucoma progression by early detection.

At Dr. Chelvin SNG eye clinic, we offer comprehensive eye exams for early detection of glaucoma and provide treatments to preserve your vision. Don’t wait until it’s too late; if you have any risk factors for glaucoma; visit us today for a thorough eye check! Call or email: +65 6334 2282/info@drchelvinsng.com.

Chelvin Sng Eye Centre – Glaucoma | Cataract Surgery | Eye Specialist

38 IRRAWADDY ROAD MT ELIZABETH NOVENA SPECIALIST CENTRE, #06-25, 329563

+65 6334 2282

https://www.drchelvinsng.com/

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