- To date there are 1.5 million Mexicans diagnosed with glaucoma, although the real figure could be higher.
- While worldwide the figure exceeds 60 million affected.
- Globally, it is the second leading cause of blindness, after cataracts.
Genetics is a very important part of Medicine because there are diseases that are more common in some races. Through recent studies it has been identified that the Glaucoma affects Mexicans more frequently than people of other nationalities. That is why it is essential to go to ophthalmological check-ups periodically to detect the problem from its early stages.
A silent vision problem
The above was said by Adriana Hernández López, who is a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She also said that this eye condition is characterized by being silent and often asymptomatic. While globally it is the second cause of blindness in the worldafter the falls.
“It is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks or compromises the optic nerve and in this process can have manifestations such as the reduction of the patient’s field of vision, and may or may not be associated with the pressure handled by the eye. That is, an ocular hypertension that, if sustained, can develop into glaucoma”, described the ophthalmologist attached to the Research Coordination of the Department of Surgery of the FM.
The specialist warned that it is important to raise awareness on the subject, because prevention and timely and personalized diagnosis change the natural course of the disease, which is irreversible.
Glaucoma warning signs
Sometimes it has symptoms like redness and pain in the eyes and head, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and halos around lights.
The glaucoma it is multifactorial and is associated with factors such as heredity (because if a direct line relative suffers from it, there is up to 10 percent more chance of presenting it); age (especially after age 40 with a major focus at age 60); diabetes, hypertension, alterations in triglycerides and cholesterol, tobacco and alcohol consumption; myopia, hyperopia, eye or head injuries.
Glaucoma is more frequent among Mexicans
In Mexico there are about a million and a half people who suffer from it. Some statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that on the entire planet there can be up to 60 million.
On the other hand, in nations like the United States, up to 10 million visits to the ophthalmologist are recorded to perform glaucoma follow-up.
“There are racial characteristics that make the African-American and Hispanic populations targets for glaucoma. I would say that Mexicans are more frequently susceptible to this disease.”
According to information from the Institute of Health for Well-being (INSABI), in our country it is the main cause of blindness in people over 60 years of age, but it can be controlled if it is detected in time.
It is mentioned that it is frequent and affects two percent of the population over 40 years of age and 14 percent of those over 60.
“The problem is that it is estimated that only half of glaucoma patients know they have this disease because, initially, it does not produce symptoms and it is very difficult for the patient to detect the loss of peripheral vision that occurs in early stages. . Although the age factor is important, it can occur at all stages of life, even in babies”.
Treatment may include surgery, laser, or medication, depending on the course and severity of the condition. Eye drops are usually used at first along with medication to lower intraocular pressure.