Glaucoma is a group of diseases sharing a common effect – irreparable harm to the fine nerve fibers of the retina and optic nerve which is the widespread reason for eyesight failure and sightlessness. Glaucoma treatment usually entails administration of eye drops. However this form of glaucoma treatment is incapable of restoring harm which has already transpired. Eye drops could only save vision by averting any additional worsening.

The drawback of eye drops is that they need to be placed on a number of instances all through the day and the medicine washing away from eyes lessens its efficacy.

An announcement made during an American Chemical Society Conference unfurled novel eye lenses with gradual medicine release that holds them in proper position could considerably augment glaucoma treatment. The key to its efficacy is the usage of vitamin E in constructing the eye lens.

Vitamin E has been usually linked with anti-ageing features, creates a lattice within the lens that slackens the medicine release ensuring a lengthier stay in the eyes.

Investigator Dr. Anuj Chauhan from Univ. of Florida explicated that it in merely 2-5 minutes eye drops easily flow out from the eyes carrying and flushing out the drug along with it and thus fails in reaching the intended tissues. Moreover, absorption of vast amounts of the drug into the bloodstream is then conveyed all through the body which could lead to side-effects.

Animal-based studies have shown the vitamin E usage vastly raises the time span the medicines stay in the eyes prior to them being flushed away.

Dr. Chauhan stated that such vitamin make-up is similar to nano-bars. The medicine molecules fail to permeate vitamin E and have to make a circuitous passage. As nano-bars have size which is a couple of hundred times larger as compared to the medicine molecules, they get rerouted and have to take a lengthier course which augments the time period of medicine release from the eye lens.

These eye lenses would be evaluated on humans in the subsequent two years and has the additional advantage of safeguarding eyes from sun-induced harm.

Similar to usage of normal eye contacts, these lenses could be used for a month’s time duration and can additionally be packed with cataract-treating medicines and drugs for other eye disorders.

The conference held in California additionally shed light on a laser eye test which can spot the condition when harm is at its least. The thirty-minute lasting laser eye test is slated to be widely available in about 5 years.

In the interim, eye specialists advise all to undergo normal eye tests in two-yearly time intervals.

Glaucoma treatment could comprise of prescription eye drops, laser surgery or microsurgery.

• Eye Drops

  Prescription eye drops are recommended for reducing fluid from forming in front of the eyes or increasing their efflux. Medicated eye drops are generally the foremost course adopted for glaucoma treatment intended at reducing IOP (intraocular pressure or internal eye pressure). As glaucoma is mostly pain-free, several individuals could become lackadaisical about strictly following usage of eye drops that could help in controlling eye pressure and averting lasting eye damage. Factually, nonconformity to a program of recommended glaucoma medicines is the chief cause for sightlessness occurring due to glaucoma. Side effects of eye drops could comprise of allergic reaction, reddishness in eyes, stinging sensation felt briefly, blurry eyesight and eye irritation. A number of glaucoma medications could affect cardiac and lung functioning. Hence, it is crucial that the doctor is kept informed regarding any glaucoma drugs one would presently be using or are having allergic reaction to.

• Laser Surgery

  Laser surgery for treating glaucoma brings about a slight rise in fluid outflow from the eyes among open-angle glaucoma cases or eradicates fluid obstruction among angle-closure glaucoma cases. Laser surgery forms comprise of:

  • Trabeculoplasty – With assistance of a laser, the trabecular mesh work voidance area is pulled open.
  • Iridotomy- A small aperture is made in the iris for facilitating easier fluid flow.
  • Cyclophotocoagulation – A laser ray is used for treating regions of the ciliary body, decreasing fluid being produced.

• Microsurgery

  During an operative procedure known as trabeculectomy, creation of a new-fangled conduit is done for facilitating fluid drainage, thus lowering intraocular pressure which is contributory to glaucoma. At times, this type of glaucoma surgical procedure is unsuccessful and would require being re-performed. In a number of patients, glaucoma implantation is the most suited choice. Microsurgery-related other complications comprise of transitory or lasting eyesight loss alongside blood loss or infection developing.

The prevalent course of treatment for open-angle glaucoma is often a variety of combination types comprising of eye drops, laser trabeculoplasty and microsurgery. Conventionally in the United States, medications are the foremost line of treatment; however, mounting proof has revealed that in a number of cases, glaucoma has responded well when microsurgery or laser surgery was done early on.

Congenital (infant) glaucoma is an inborn condition that is chiefly cured employing surgery since the reason is a vastly deformed drainage system.

It is imperative to consult an ophthalmologist for finding the right treatment option best suited to the person’s eye condition.