Why it is called the silent thief
Most glaucoma gives no pain and no warning. You lose side vision first, so you may not notice until much is lost. Damage that has happened usually cannot be brought back. That is why regular checks matter, especially if someone in your family has glaucoma, you are over 40, you have diabetes, or you use steroid medicines.
What we do
Dr. Kumar measures your eye pressure, looks at the optic nerve and checks your side vision. The aim is to bring the pressure down and keep the nerve safe. Treatment cannot undo damage already done, but it can stop it getting worse.
Drops, then surgery if needed
Most people start with eye drops every day. Missing drops lets pressure rise again, so use them as advised. If drops cannot keep the pressure low enough, Dr. Kumar may advise surgery called trabeculectomy, which makes a new path for the fluid to leave the eye.
Honest risks
- Drops: stinging, red eyes, dry eyes. Some can affect breathing or heart rate, so tell us about asthma or heart problems.
- Surgery: low pressure, a shallow eye, infection, bleeding, or the new path scarring over so pressure rises again.
- Cataract can form sooner after glaucoma surgery.
- Call us at once if: you have sudden severe eye pain with headache, nausea or vomiting, red eye and halos around lights. This can be angle-closure glaucoma, an emergency that needs treatment within hours.