Glaucoma
No pain. No symptoms - No wonder it's called "The Silent Thief of Sight."
What you need to know about glaucoma - Expert talk
In this video, Dr Rashmi, consultant ophthalmologist at Drishti Speciality Eyecare, Davangere, Karnataka, discuses and provides practical information about glaucoma, the warning signs and how to prevent glaucoma damage before it starts and tips for living with glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that lead to damage of the optic nerve (the nerve fibers that send signals from eye to the brain) and results in vision loss and blindness. Because they are usually no symptoms or pain associated with the onset of glaucoma, it’s called the silent thief of sight.
Do you know?
78 million have glaucoma
What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
At first, glaucoma doesn’t usually have any symptoms. That’s why half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it.
Over time, you may slowly lose vision, usually starting with your side (peripheral) vision — especially the part of your vision that’s closest to your nose. Because it happens so slowly, many people can’t tell that their vision is changing at first.
But as the disease gets worse, you may start to notice that you can’t see things off to the side anymore. Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually cause blindness.
Courtesy: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH).

Who is at risk for glaucoma?
- Having high internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
- Age above 60
- Family History
- Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sickle cell anaemia
- Having certain eye conditions, such as myopia
- Had certain types of eye surgery
- Taking corticosteroid medications, especially eye drops, for a long time
Talk with an ophthalmologist about your risk for getting glaucoma. More than 50 percent of cases of glaucoma remain undiagnosed in the community.
Courtesy: National Health Portal; https://www.nhp.gov.in/world-glaucoma-week_pg
Know when to get checked
Because, the EARLIER the diagnosis, the less damage will be done and the more vision will be saved!
BEFORE AGE 40 every 2 -4 years
FROM 40 - 60 every 2 - 3 years
AFTER 60 every 1 - 2 years
Technologies from ZEISS that helps eye specialist diagnose and manage glaucoma
ZEISS is a leading provider of industry-leading instruments that aid in the diagnosis, treatment and management of glaucoma. Advanced technologies like OCT angiography, Perimetry and Ultra-Widefield Fundus Imaging help ophthalmologists to conduct detailed tests to detect significant changes and make the assessments for the disease management.

Visual Field Series
Humphrey® Field Analyzer 3
The HFA3 Field Analyzer is a gold standard automated perimeter intended to identify visual field defects in glaucoma, and related neurological disorders. It is the ultimate for practice efficiency, advanced features, and long-term value.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
CIRRUS HD-OCT
ZEISS CIRRUS HD-OCT allows for the visualization of both vascular and structural information from a single, non-invasive scan, making visualization of microvasculature of the retina a routine part of everyday care.

HD Ultra-Widefield Fundus Imaging
CLARUS
The next generation HD ultra-widefield fundus imaging from ZEISS is the first system to provide true color and clarity in an ultra-wide field of view of the fundus (retina).

Eye care data management software
ZEISS Glaucoma Workplace
The ZEISS Glaucoma Workplace is a fully interactive multimodality software solution that combines exam data from HFA, OCT and fundus camera across visits to better visualize change progression.
- World Glaucoma Association; https://www.worldglaucomaweek.org
- Glaucoma Research Foundation, Glaucoma Facts & Stats; https://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma/glaucoma-facts-and-stats.php
- National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP), Learn About Glaucoma; https://nei.nih.gov/nehep/programs/glaucoma/learn-about