Question
A nearly 70-year-old individual was recently diagnosed with glaucoma, with one eye’s vision having become blurred. In the past two weeks, the patient had experienced coughing symptoms and had been taking amoxicillin and expectorant syrup. Subsequently, the patient felt weak all over, with blurred vision, and almost lost sight in the right eye on the day of the onset. After consultation, the patient was diagnosed with glaucoma and began using eye drops for treatment. Although the vision improved somewhat, it remained blurred. Is there still a possibility of treatment for glaucoma in such elderly patients?
Answer
Glaucoma is an eye disease that progresses rapidly, has a high risk of harm, and can lead to blindness. It is characterized by a sustained or intermittent increase in intraocular pressure beyond the range that the eye can withstand, leading to damage to eye tissues and vision function, resulting in optic nerve atrophy, narrowing of the visual field, and deterioration of vision. During an acute attack, patients may become completely blind within 24 to 48 hours. Glaucoma typically affects both eyes, possibly occurring simultaneously or starting in one eye and then affecting the other.