Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve — the cable that carries vision from the eye to the brain — is gradually damaged. Raised pressure inside the eye is the most important risk factor, although glaucoma can also occur at normal pressure. In Hindi it is commonly called kala motia or kala motiya, and in Gujarati zamar (ઝામર). It is not the same as cataract (safed motia).
The most common form causes no pain and no early warning. Side vision is lost first, and because the other eye and the brain fill in the gaps, most people do not notice anything until the damage is advanced. At ShivAnuj Eye Hospital & Diagnostic Center on Harni–Warasiya Ring Road, glaucoma is assessed and managed by Dr. Anuj Kodnani (MS Ophthalmology, DNB, FTVPEI, FWCRS).
ઝામર (ગ્લોકોમા) શું છે?
ઝામરમાં આંખની ઓપ્ટિક નર્વ (દૃષ્ટિની નસ) ધીમે ધીમે નુકસાન પામે છે. શરૂઆતમાં મોટે ભાગે કોઈ લક્ષણ દેખાતાં નથી, અને ગયેલી દૃષ્ટિ પાછી આવતી નથી. તેથી ૪૦ વર્ષ પછી, અથવા કુટુંબમાં કોઈને ઝામર હોય તો, નિયમિત આંખની તપાસ કરાવવી જરૂરી છે. ShivAnuj માં આંખનું પ્રેશર અને OCT દ્વારા નસની તપાસ થાય છે. એપોઇન્ટમેન્ટ માટે +91 94289 74800 પર ફોન કરો.
काला मोतिया (ग्लूकोमा) क्या है?
काला मोतिया में आँख की ऑप्टिक नर्व धीरे-धीरे खराब होती है। शुरुआत में अक्सर कोई लक्षण नहीं होते, और गई हुई रोशनी वापस नहीं आती। इसलिए 40 साल के बाद, या परिवार में किसी को काला मोतिया हो तो, नियमित आँखों की जाँच ज़रूरी है। अपॉइंटमेंट के लिए +91 94289 74800 पर कॉल करें।
Who should be checked
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but the risk is higher if you:
- Are over 40 — the risk rises steadily with age
- Have a parent, brother or sister with glaucoma
- Have a high spectacle number, either minus (myopia) or plus (hypermetropia)
- Have diabetes or high blood pressure
- Have used steroid medicines for a long time, including steroid eye drops, inhalers, tablets or skin creams
- Have had an eye injury in the past
If any of these apply, a glaucoma check is worth doing even if your vision feels perfectly normal. Family members of someone with glaucoma should be checked too.
Two main types
| Type | How it behaves | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Open-angle glaucoma | The commonest form. Slow, painless loss of side vision over years. | Usually found only on a routine eye check. This is why screening matters. |
| Angle-closure glaucoma | The eye’s drainage angle is narrow and can close. May build up silently, or come on suddenly. | A sudden attack is an emergency. Narrow angles can often be identified — and treated — before an attack happens. |
Seek care the same day if you develop sudden eye pain with redness, blurred vision, coloured haloes around lights, headache, or nausea and vomiting. This can be an acute angle-closure attack. Call +91 94289 74800 during OPD hours, or go to the nearest emergency eye service.
How glaucoma is checked
No single test diagnoses glaucoma. The picture is built from several:
- Eye pressure (IOP) — measured quickly and painlessly.
- Optic nerve examination — the doctor looks at the shape and health of the nerve head, usually after dilating drops.
- OCT nerve-fibre analysis — a non-contact scan on the Optopol REVO FC that measures the nerve-fibre layer and compares it with normal values. Repeating it over time shows whether anything is changing.
- Drainage-angle assessment — to tell open-angle from narrow or closed angles.
- Visual field test — maps your side vision; it may be advised when glaucoma is suspected or confirmed.
Sometimes the findings are borderline. In that case you may be labelled a “glaucoma suspect” and simply monitored, because comparing results over months is often what makes the diagnosis clear.
Treatment
Treatment cannot reverse damage already done. Its aim is to lower the eye pressure enough to protect the nerve from further harm, so you keep the vision you have.
- Eye drops are the usual first step. Most people need one to three types, used every day, long-term.
- Laser treatment may be advised in some situations, for example to open a narrow drainage angle.
- Surgery is considered when pressure cannot be controlled adequately with drops or laser.
The right plan depends on the type of glaucoma, how advanced it is and the pressure level your nerve can tolerate. Your target pressure and treatment are reviewed at each visit.
Living with glaucoma
Glaucoma is a lifelong condition, and the people who do best are those who keep going with it:
- Use your drops every day, even when your eyes feel fine. Do not stop or change them without advice.
- Keep your follow-up visits. Pressure and nerve checks at regular intervals are how we know the treatment is working.
- Tell every doctor you see that you use glaucoma drops, and mention any new medicines to us — particularly steroids.
- Ask close family to be checked.
Questions patients ask
Can glaucoma be cured?
There is no cure that restores vision already lost, but glaucoma can usually be controlled. With early diagnosis, regular treatment and follow-up, most people keep useful vision throughout their lives.
Is kala motia the same as cataract?
No. Kala motia (glaucoma) is damage to the optic nerve and the vision lost cannot be recovered. Safed motia or motiyabind (cataract) is clouding of the lens, and vision is restored by surgery. They are different conditions, although a person can have both.
My eye pressure is normal. Can I still have glaucoma?
Yes. Some people develop glaucoma at normal pressure, which is why the optic nerve and OCT scan are examined as well, rather than relying on pressure alone.
Do glaucoma drops have side effects?
Some people notice stinging, redness or other effects, and a few drops can affect breathing or heart rate in people with certain conditions. Tell us about asthma, heart problems or any other medicines you take, and report side effects rather than stopping the drops on your own — there is usually an alternative.
How often should I get a glaucoma check?
For adults over 40 without risk factors, an eye examination every one to two years is reasonable. If you have risk factors, are a glaucoma suspect, or are on treatment, your doctor will advise a more frequent schedule.
Is the OCT test painful?
No. OCT is a non-contact scan — you look into the machine for a few seconds while it images the back of the eye. Nothing touches the eye.
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This page is general health information, not a substitute for a clinical examination. Suitability for any procedure is decided only after an in-person assessment. Individual results vary.
This page is general health information, not a substitute for a clinical examination. Suitability for any test or treatment is decided only after your eyes have been examined.