Dr Kumar is passionate about helping to diagnose and provide optimal glaucoma treatment in Sydney. His many qualifications, skills and knowledge make him a leader amongst city eye surgeons.
Glaucoma refers to a range of conditions that impact the optic nerve, with subsequent loss of visual field and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
Glaucoma is referred to as “the sneak thief of sight”. Over time, a patient has a steady decline in their visual acuity without really noticing.
This is because the optic nerves connect the eyes to the brain and this bundle of nerves is what carries visual images to your brain. With glaucoma, nerve fibres are lost, resulting in cupping or excavation of the central part of the optic nerve and causing a loss of peripheral vision (side vision).
There are different types of Glaucoma:
- Open-angle Glaucoma or primary glaucoma. In this particular type, the angle between your cornea and iris is open and wide
- Closed-angle Glaucoma where your iris and cornea have such a narrow-angle where they come into contact, resulting in a blockage of your eye’s drainage system
- Congenital Glaucoma is caused by improper development of the drainage channel in your eyes before birth. This type is hereditary and occurs before the age of 2 years