Both cataracts and glaucoma are eye problems that can cause loss of vision. Cataracts are usually painless and progress gradually, while glaucoma on the other hand can be both slow and subtle or painful and quick. If you have cataracts, you suffer from a change in the lens.
Hazy or blurred vision: Distorted or blurry vision accompanied by other symptoms. Eye pain: Severe pain around your eyes & head. Eye redness: Red eyes caused by increased eye pressure. Colored halos around lights: Colored bright circles forming around light sources.
So, which is worse: cataracts or glaucoma? While both can lead to blindness, the fact that there is no cure for glaucoma makes it the worse of the two conditions. Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible, whereas vision loss from cataracts can be corrected with the replacement of the cloudy lens.
8 Loss of vision in glaucoma has been traditionally described as “tunnel vision” or as if “looking through a straw” (courtesy: National Eye Institute and National Institutes of Health). Loss of peripheral vision for 1 eye indicates diminished vision toward the edges of the VF of that eye (Figures 2A and 2B).
Cloudy or blurry vision
This is the most common symptom of cataracts. It can affect both distance and reading vision which may appear foggy. If left untreated, the clouding of the lens means the cataract will worsen, with less light able to get through the lens.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
Seeing halos around lights. Vision loss. Eye redness. Whitening/haziness of the cornea.
People over age 60 are at increased risk for the disease. African Americans, however, are at increased risk after age 40. The risk of developing glaucoma increases slightly with each year of age.
But treatment and regular checkups can help slow or prevent vision loss, especially if you catch the disease in its early stages. Glaucoma is treated by lowering intraocular pressure. Treatment options include prescription eye drops, oral medicines, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of approaches.
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, results in increased eye pressure. There are often no early symptoms, which is why 50% of people with glaucoma don't know they have the disease. There is no cure (yet) for glaucoma, but if it's caught early, you can preserve your vision and prevent vision loss.
About 5 percent of people age 65 and older develop glaucoma and 10 percent of those age 80 and older develop it. Race and ethnic background. People who are African-American, Asian, or Hispanic have a higher risk. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African Americans.
Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive eye disease caused by damage to the optic nerve, which leads to visual field loss. One of the major risk factors is eye pressure. An abnormality in the eye's drainage system can cause fluid to build up, leading to excessive pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve.
#5: Cloudy or Hazy Eyes
This is a sign that other people notice before the glaucoma sufferer does, unless the person looks in the mirror and sees it. The eyes may look like there is a white/cloudy film in front of them.
stages: stage 0 (normal visual field), stage I (early), stage II (moderate), stage III (advanced), stage IV (severe), and stage V (end-stage). Staging criteria are based mainly on the HVF, with MD as the primary measure.
In eyes with IOP in the normal range, some neurophthalmological disorders can mimic and be misdiagnosed as glaucoma. Among them, isquemic and compressive optic neuropathies were the most common conditions whose fundoscopic appearance resembled glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
High trans fats have been proven to cause damage to the optic nerve. Time to cut out fried foods, baked goods and any product with an ingredient list that includes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Saturated foods that include red meat, beef, lard, shortening and oils can also worsen glaucoma.
If you're concerned about glaucoma, your optometrist is the professional to visit. Optometrists are equipped to diagnose glaucoma with a series of tests during your detailed eye exam. While there are various types of glaucoma, they all involve damage to the optic nerve.
Place the tips of both index fingers on the closed upper eyelid. Keeping both fingertips in contact with the upper eyelid, apply gentle pressure through the closed eyelid, first gently pressing on the eye with the right index finger, then with the left, and then with the right again (Figure 1). Repeat on the other eye.
But for most people, glaucoma does not have to lead to blindness. That is because glaucoma is controllable with modern treatment, and there are many choices to help keep glaucoma from further damaging your eyes. Treatment cannot reverse damage that has already occurred, but it can prevent further vision loss.
By the time you notice vision loss from glaucoma, it's too late. The lost vision cannot be restored, and it's very likely you may experience additional vision loss, even after glaucoma treatment begins.
Currently, regular eye exams are the best form of prevention against significant glaucoma damage. Early detection and careful, lifelong treatment can maintain vision in most people. In general, a check for glaucoma should be done: before age 40, every two to four years.
Drinking a quart of water in less than five minutes has been shown to increase intraocular pressure; instead, advise your patients to drink small amounts of water often to stay hydrated.