Glaucoma - signs of the disease requires the timely identification, ie identification of the early stages of the disease. But glaucoma often goes unnoticed and to reveal it, it is necessary to know the initial symptoms. Particularly relevant is it in old age, as glaucoma often develops after age 60.

Initial signs of glaucoma

The initial symptoms of glaucoma may be so mild that the patient simply does not notice. However, every person over 60 years old should pay attention to symptoms such as blurred vision, especially after the hard work, work with the bend of the trunk, stay in a dark room. The appearance of cloudy vision in such cases should be the occasion to appeal to the eye doctor. Sometimes during exercise or tilting the head may appear pain in the orbit, temple and headaches - this feature must also guard.

Another early sign of glaucoma is the appearance of bright circles around the light source (for example, around a bright moon, lantern and so on). Sometimes, the first signs of the disease are reduced vision and the need for constant change points, reduced vision at dusk.

Pay particular attention to the need to treat people with his vision of family history, that is, having close relatives of patients with glaucoma. Such patients in the second half of life should periodically visit an ophthalmologist as a prophylactic measure and measure the intraocular pressure.

Signs of advanced and far advanced glaucoma

If the initial stage of glaucoma Stages of glaucoma - the types of disease   it is sometimes difficult to observe, the development of glaucoma Glaucoma - a perspective possible blindness   already has a certain manifestation of which it is possible to observe at close relation to his vision.

The first two symptoms the patient may notice himself. Increased intraocular pressure manifested a sense of discomfort in the eye (the sensation of heaviness and tension), headaches, pain in the eye of varying degrees of severity - from mild to very severe, paroxysmal, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and impaired general condition (acute attack of glaucoma). Pain in different eyes may have varying degrees of severity, sometimes pain occurs in only one eye. This suggests that the degree of eye damage is most often different, but usually affects both eyes. In advanced stages of acute attacks of glaucoma may be accompanied by long-term loss of vision and sometimes complete loss of unrecoverable visual function - blindness.

However, in most cases the decrease in visual acuity occurs gradually due to narrowing of the visual fields. It begins narrowing of the visual field on the inside - a man does not see his nose. Gradually peripheral visual field disturbed increasingly, and then begins to break and central vision. In advanced glaucoma vision may fade to light perception at first and then completely - blindness occurs.

But this suffering patients often do not end there. There are growing pains in the orbit, temple and severe headaches - a sign of high intraocular pressure.

Finally, the third sign of glaucoma - changes in the fundus can identify only a doctor during tool inspection. In the eye of the day in glaucoma there is a characteristic feature - the excavation of the optic nerve, ie impression, deepening of the optic nerve, associated with its constant squeezing. Prolonged compression of the optic nerve leads to metabolic disorders in its fibers, and then complete atrophy (withering away) nerve, and it is blindness.

Symptoms of cataract and glaucoma

Is there a link between cataract and glaucoma? It turns out there is.

. That is a metabolic disorder Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things   in the lens causes it blurred - cataract. On the other hand cataracts Cataracts - how to solve the problem completely?   at a certain stage of development can strengthen all manifestation of glaucoma. The lens then becomes increasingly turbid, swollen, increasing in volume, and this contributes to the intraocular pressure.

The symptoms of cataracts may be different, but basically they are manifested in the form of visual impairment: reduce its severity, the appearance of "flying flies", turbidity images, etc. In some patients with cataract matures for a long time, others - quickly, but in any case slow palenie of using conservative treatment often fails. After complete maturation of cataracts visual acuity decreased so much that can only distinguish light from darkness.

Signs of the initial stages of glaucoma and cataracts can be similar. The task is simply to observe the patient's visual impairment and to see a doctor, who, after a survey has established the definitive diagnosis and treatment.

Galina Romanenko

Watery eyes - a very common phenomenon that once in my life faced, probably everyone. What if the eyes water?

Generally, the tears are produced continuously in humans - this is normal and necessary for eye health. They secrete lacrimal gland, and when a person blinks, the tears are distributed on the cornea. Then the tears are derived from the surface of the eye through a thin tear ducts, enter into a special tank, and from there follow on the tear ducts, which run along the nose. His eyes begin to tear, if the tears did not appear fast enough, or if they are produced in very large quantities.

Most often watery eyes of a child under a year, and people older than 60 years; However, this problem may also occur in adolescents and young adults.

Why watery eyes

• Obstruction of tear ducts

Normally, the tear ducts remove excess tears, so your eyes stay well hydrated, but tears do not interfere with normal to see. If the channels do not perform their function, the patient may deteriorate vision (visible objects seem a bit hazy, blurry), tears can flow down her cheeks for no apparent reason, and so on. In adults, the tear ducts obstruction is usually caused by age-related changes, certain inflammatory diseases and injuries. If tears are a long time in special cavities, from which they are displayed on the tear duct may form a viscous mucus that accumulates in the corners of the eyes and eyelashes. Sometimes this violation on one side of the nose blistering, which in some cases becomes inflamed and painful abscess Abscess - why it is so dangerous ulcers? . For the treatment of the abscess may require antibiotics Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future?   or even surgery.

Quite rarely observed obstruction of tear ducts, which are higher - in relation to the eyes - the tear ducts. This may be the inflammation or scar tissue formation as a result of viral infection or injury.

Children are sometimes born with underdeveloped tear ducts. They may be partially or fully closed, and the child because of this constant watery eyes. In most cases, this disturbance passes to the time the child turns one year.

• Corneal injury

Cornea - is thin, transparent tissue covering the iris and pupil outside. Light enters the eye and allows us to see, first of all passes through the cornea. Can damage the cornea, for example, the sand gets into your eyes, some of the chemicals contact lenses Contact lenses - whether they can completely replace the glasses? . You can also damage it when trёte eyes or doing sports traumatic. If the damaged area will get the bacteria can form a corneal ulcer - a consequence of this, in some cases become serious vision problems. In most cases, damage to the cornea small and heal quickly. Within a few minutes a person can tear your eyes, often whites of the eyes turn red, there is a burning sensation and mild pain, but then the symptoms disappear. If tearing does not stop for ten minutes or more, you feel severe pain in the eyes and involuntarily, fast blinking, seek medical attention.

• Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the conjunctiva - a common and usually benign disease of the eye. Its causes can be viral, bacterial infections, allergies and exposure to irritants. The main symptoms of conjunctivitis - reddened whites of the eyes and watery eyes; can be observed and such symptoms as itching and / or pain in the eyes, fever, green or yellowish discharge from the eyes.

• For many people watery eyes when colds and flu

This may be due to the severe headaches, and the fact that the disease causes inflammation of the tear ducts. This is the answer to a common question - why watery eyes with a cold. As we have said, tear ducts are located very close to the nose, and there is nothing surprising in the fact that sometimes they are subject to an infection of the respiratory tract and the eyes begin to tear. When a patient starts to recover, this symptom disappears one of the first.

• Blepharitis

Blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelids, which is characterized by symptoms such as burning and itching in the eyes; reaction to this can be increased secretion of tears. Usually the cause of blepharitis Blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelid margins   getting staph infection, but sometimes it is a complication of diseases such as seborrheic dermatitis or rosacea.

• Cluster headache

One of the rarest reasons for which a person can start to tear his eyes. These headaches occur from time to time; some patients - every few years, others - only once in a lifetime. These pains are so strong that a person may try to commit suicide, just to stop them. Of course, watery eyes - one of the most innocuous symptoms of cluster headaches, which patients almost do not pay attention; Other symptoms may be narrowing of the pupil, redness of the eyes, increased sensitivity to light, stuffy or runny nose, nausea. As a rule, his eyes watering stop shortly after the pain go away. By the way, almost any severe headache, including those started by trauma, can cause increased lacrimation.

Diagnostics

Not all people who have watery eyes, seek medical attention. In many cases, it does not cause serious concern, and quickly tear secretion returns to normal. However, in some cases, it is necessary to be examined, for example, if the tear-filled eyes in infants (any health problems in infants should not be left unattended) if tearing passes for one or two days and / or if it causes discomfort and interferes work, and if it is accompanied by severe pain or a burning sensation in the eyes. Of course, you need to seek medical help, and in the event of extremely severe headaches.

If your doctor suggests that the symptom is caused by a communicable disease, he may assign you a number of laboratory tests. If you suspect an obstruction of the tear ducts is carried out special diagnostic procedures. To reduce discomfort, the patient is instilled in the eye drops containing painkillers, and then into the holes located in the corners of the eyes, introduced a very thin, flexible tool with which checks whether the blocked tear ducts and ducts. In some cases, the diagnosis can be used and some methods of medical imaging, such as X-ray using contrast agents.