What are the symptoms of acute glaucoma? Do elderly people with glaucoma need surgery?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that often occurs in the elderly. The main symptoms are unclear peripheral vision and decreased vision. If it is acute glaucoma, severe cases may even cause blindness. There are some signs before the onset of acute glaucoma. What are they?

What are the symptoms of acute glaucoma?

1. Preclinical stage

First of all, everyone should understand that glaucoma is a binocular disease. Once one eye has an acute attack and is diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma, then even if the other eye has no symptoms temporarily, it is the so-called preclinical stage (not that there is no disease, it just has not yet attacked).

2. Prodromal stage

This is the prompt period for the occurrence of the disease. Patients often have some minor attacks, such as sudden fog in front of the eyes in the evening, and may also be accompanied by headaches. However, these symptoms appear for a short time and will be relieved and disappear after rest, which will cause many people to ignore the precursors of the disease.

3. Acute attack

The main symptoms are severe headache, eye pain, photophobia, tearing, severe vision loss, etc., and may even be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Patients often pay attention and go to the hospital for treatment. The doctor can diagnose acute angle-closure glaucoma based on the corresponding clinical manifestations and examination results.

4. Intermission

It can be understood that when the disease develops to a certain extent, there will be a "respite" period, at which time the symptoms will often be relieved and the intraocular pressure will also decrease.

5. Chronic stage

There may be glaucomatous optic disc depression in the fundus.

6. Absolute period

The intraocular pressure continued to rise and the optic nerve was severely damaged.

Is surgery necessary for glaucoma in the elderly?

Glaucoma is divided into congenital glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. Most cases of senile glaucoma are angle-closure glaucoma.

Due to ethnicity, most Chinese people suffer from angle-closure glaucoma, which can be divided into two types: acute and chronic.

When acute angle-closure glaucoma attacks, there will be symptoms such as eye pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of vision, and increased intraocular pressure. You need to go to the hospital immediately and use medication to control intraocular pressure. After controlling intraocular pressure, laser iridotomy, filtration surgery, or cataract surgery can be performed according to the condition.

Most cases of chronic angle-closure glaucoma have no obvious symptoms and are often discovered in the middle or late stages, and most require surgical treatment.

How to prevent glaucoma in the elderly

Don't overeat

Overeating can increase intraocular pressure and induce glaucoma. The elderly should "eat until they are full at 8 o'clock, do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, do not drink coffee, do not drink strong tea, and do not eat spicy and irritating foods."

Keep exercising

Physical exercise can speed up blood flow, reduce blood stasis in the retina, unclog aqueous humor circulation, and reduce intraocular pressure. However, it is not suitable to stand upside down to avoid increased intraocular pressure.

Get a good night's sleep

Restless sleep and insomnia can easily lead to increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma. Before going to bed, the elderly should wash their feet and drink milk to help them fall asleep. If necessary, they should take hypnotic drugs, especially those with high intraocular pressure should sleep well.

Keep a cheerful mood

Anger and anxiety can cause mental stimulation and easily increase intraocular pressure, which can cause glaucoma, so it is usually important to maintain a happy mood and not get angry or anxious.