The ophthalmology group at Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital held a knowledge-sharing seminar about glaucoma to promote awareness of glaucoma diagnosis and treatment for World Glaucoma Week 2022, and now is providing a free screening service from 7-11 March 2022.
On March 7, 2022., Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital organized activities on the occasion of World Glaucoma Week on the 2nd floor of the outpatient building. Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital. The ophthalmology group, led by Dr. Supachai Supharerksakul, M.D. Supa Sukjamnong and Dr. Korn Kanchanarachit, ophthalmologists, attended the seminar to provide knowledge about glaucoma: causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention, demonstration of simple visual field measurement, ready-to-answer questions, and questions for the participants. The session was useful for the participants to understand glaucoma better, able to measure visual fields easily, to apply the knowledge for continuous self-care at home, as well as to provide initial glaucoma screening services to the general public, those older than 40 years, very nearsighted people who have had eye accidents, frequent steroid users, people with underlying medical conditions, diabetic and high-blood-pressure patients, and those with a family history of glaucoma.
The Glaucoma-screening service will be provided on 7-11 March 2022 from 1-3 PM at the eye clinic, 3rd floor, outpatient building. Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital, free of charge for 30 persons/day.
There are many types of glaucoma, but you can commonly find the following five types:
● Chronic open-angle glaucoma: can be broken down into two further types: one caused by high intraocular pressure, found up to 90% and to gradually occur for unknown reasons, and the other with normal intraocular pressure that continues to damage the eye.
● Angle-closure glaucoma: caused by the abnormal structure of the eyeball or the use of eye drops in the group Atropine (Atropine) or antispasmodic (Antispasmodics) that have the effects of dilating the pupils, including when we are angry, shocked, sad, as it will make the blood pump. As a result, intraocular pressure rises, increasing the risk of acute glaucoma within 1-2 days, with eye pain, red eyes, blurred vision, seeing rainbows around lights. Some people may be nauseous, accompanied by vomiting.
● Complicated glaucoma: caused by other complications such as cataracts, eye tumors, iritis, bleeding in the eye, or prolonged use of steroid eye drops
● Pediatric glaucoma: although it seems far-fetched for people of our working age, if anyone plans to have a little one, they must be careful because glaucoma can be found in about 1 in 10,000 people, which are both from birth, in children under 3 years, and older than 3 years.
● Suspicion of glaucoma: someone who has some symptoms such as chronic glaucoma, but has not yet been diagnosed with chronic glaucoma should rush to get a diagnosis as early as possible to make treatment planning more effective.
In Thailand, it is estimated that approximately 1.7 – 2.4 million Thais have glaucoma. Glaucoma is the leading cause of permanent blindness (irreversible blindness), the most common often found in the elderly aged 40 years or older. This condition may be present at birth with a higher tendency to worsen as you age.
