Decisive Signals and Management Methods for Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration Before Blindness Occurs

Glaucoma and macular degeneration, major ophthalmic diseases that can lead to blindness, require caution because symptoms often appear only after the disease has significantly progressed. According to a video from the Doctor Dingyo channel, glaucoma is characterized by the narrowing of the field of vision starting from the periphery, while macular degeneration is characterized by the distortion or obscuring of the central vision. Additionally, retinal detachment is classified as a hyper-emergency disease that causes sudden vision loss.

'Glaucoma', the Silent Blindness, is Already in the Late Stage if Symptoms are Felt

Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve connecting the eye and the brain gradually weakens. Ophthalmologists appearing in the video describe glaucoma as 'silent blindness.' This is because there are almost no symptoms that can be self-perceived in the early stages. Rather than being discovered by feeling physical discomfort like with blood pressure or diabetes, it is often discovered coincidentally through ophthalmic examinations. In fact, the specialist in the video mentioned a case where his own father, an ophthalmologist, visited the hospital due to double vision and was coincidentally diagnosed with glaucoma, emphasizing how important regular checkups are even in the absence of symptoms.

If you feel glaucoma symptoms yourself, it is highly likely that the disease has already significantly progressed. If you feel your field of vision narrowing or your vision dropping sharply, these may be signals close to the late stage of glaucoma. Especially in South Korea and Asian lineages, there are many patients with 'normal-tension glaucoma' where the optic nerve is damaged even though intraocular pressure is normal, so one cannot be relieved by intraocular pressure levels alone. While high intraocular pressure can cause pain, normal-tension glaucoma is even more dangerous because it progresses without pain.

Risk factors for glaucoma include aging, high myopia, underlying conditions such as blood pressure and diabetes, and smoking. Specialists recommend regular ophthalmic examinations after the age of 45 to 50. One should be careful with the habit of using a smartphone in a prone position in dark places, as this can dilate the pupils, obstruct the flow of aqueous humor, and increase intraocular pressure. Prone positions or actions that apply specific pressure can also increase intraocular pressure and accelerate optic nerve damage.

'Macular Degeneration', where the Central Vision Appears Distorted, What is the Self-Diagnosis Method?

Macular degeneration is a disease caused by the accumulation of waste (deposits) in the macula, which is the center of the retina. Unlike glaucoma, which blocks the peripheral vision first, macular degeneration is characterized by the center of the field of vision becoming distorted or dark. Objects may appear distorted or the center may appear obscured, and in severe cases, the central vision may become invisible, resulting in a phenomenon where one sees objects through the periphery. Because patients cannot see the center even if they try to look at it, they may instinctively look at objects toward the side of their field of vision.

In the past, treatment was very difficult, but recently, treatments such as injecting directly into the eye to suppress new blood vessels have advanced, opening ways to prevent blindness. There is also a simple self-diagnosis method to detect macular degeneration early. Prepare a paper with a grid pattern and check whether straight lines appear distorted or specific parts appear blackly obscured when you cover one eye and stare at the center. If you print the paper or draw it yourself and stick it on a refrigerator, etc., and check by covering one eye each day, you can easily check for vision distortion.

Retinal Detachment, Beware of Sudden Black Dots and Flashes

The video mentioned retinal detachment as a hyper-emergency disease that appears before blindness. Retinal detachment is a disease where the retina detaches from the wall of the eyeball, and representative warning symptoms are 'floaters' (black dots floating in front of the eyes) or 'photopsia' (flashes of light inside the eye). If part of the field of vision is obscured in black as if a curtain has been drawn, it is a very urgent situation, so you must visit an ophthalmologist immediately. Since the range of obscuration can expand rapidly as time passes after symptoms appear, rapid response is essential for retinal detachment.

Ophthalmologists warn that delaying eye examinations or avoiding detailed examinations due to cost issues can lead to blindness. The most certain way to protect eye health is to receive regular checkups, including fundus examinations, to check the overall condition of the eyes. In particular, if abnormal findings are discovered in the results of fundus photography during a health checkup, one should visit an ophthalmologist without delay to receive a detailed examination.