Over 90% of Singaporeans with this eye condition are unaware they have it
Caption: As it is largely symptom-free, more than 90 per cent of people with glaucoma are unaware they have the condition, hence the condition's other name – "silent thief of sight". The
Glaucoma Service at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), a member of the SingHealth group, shares more about the dangers of glaucoma. (iStock photo)
In Singapore, approximately three per cent of people over the age of 50 have glaucoma. This percentage increases with age and reaches almost 10 per cent for those over the age of 70.
Around the world, Glaucoma accounts for 5.1 million of the estimated 38 million blind in the world, making it a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
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What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterised by a progressive loss of vision due to damage to the optic nerve which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. The two most common types of glaucoma are open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma.
Open-angle vs closed-angle glaucoma
In open-angle glaucoma, the structures of the eye appear normal, with the angle where the iris meets the cornea being as open as it should be. In angle-closure glaucoma (less common), the angle between the iris and cornea becomes too narrow, blocking the normal drainage canals in the eye.
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Risk factors for glaucoma include
Advancing age
Closed-angle glaucoma is more common in females
Closed-angle glaucoma is more common in Chinese
Family history of glaucoma
Being short-sighted: Increases risk of developing open-angle glaucoma
Being long-sighted: Increases risk of developing closed-angle glaucoma
Is glaucoma preventable?
Open-angle glaucoma cannot be prevented. However, if diagnosed and treated early enough, it is possible to prevent visual damage and blindness.
Closed-angle glaucoma, on the other hand, is preventable. In the early stages of the disease, (when the eye has a closed angle but has not yet develop glaucoma), performing a laser procedure called an iridotomy can potentially help to prevent blindness.
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