March 6th every year is World Glaucoma Day, and glaucoma, as the world's first irreversible cause of blindness, is threatening public vision. The incidence rate of the disease among people over 40 years old in China is 2%, and it is not exclusive to the elderly. It can occur in infants and young adults, and most patients have no symptoms in the early stages. Therefore, it is also known as the "thief of vision". On World Glaucoma Day, reporters visited the Zhongshan Eye Center of Sun Yat sen University and invited glaucoma doctors to popularize the symptoms and treatment of glaucoma. What symptoms may be a 'visual thief' quietly visiting? Glaucoma is a group of diseases characterized by optic nerve atrophy and visual field defects, with the core cause being high intraocular pressure and pressure on the optic nerve. Under normal circumstances, the aqueous humor circulation maintains stable intraocular pressure. Once the drainage channel of the aqueous humor is obstructed, intraocular pressure will increase. Prolonged high intraocular pressure will compress the optic nerve, causing the visual field to shrink from the periphery to the center, ultimately leading to blindness and irreversible visual impairment. Huang Jingjing, chief physician of Zhongshan Ophthalmology at Sun Yat sen University, told us to be careful of glaucoma, the "thief of vision". When our normal intraocular pressure is 10 to 20, if it skyrockets to 25, 30 or even higher, glaucoma may come knocking on our door. Glaucoma is divided into acute and chronic types. During an acute attack, the eyes become red and painful, and vision rapidly declines, causing unbearable suffering. Chronic glaucoma is even more cunning. Usually, I just feel tired, uncomfortable, and a little swollen in my eyes, and there is a rainbow when I look at the light. Sometimes when you suddenly cover one eye, you realize that your vision is poor and your field of vision has become smaller. By the time you discover it, glaucoma has already unknowingly stolen your vision. Who are the "preferred" groups for glaucoma? Huang Jingjing introduced that glaucoma has a certain degree of familial inheritance. If someone in your family has had it, you should pay more attention and be sure to check during physical examinations. Young people with high myopia have a higher incidence of glaucoma than those without myopia. People with hyperopia, high intraocular pressure, previous uveitis, eye trauma, or long-term use of certain hormone drugs are also high-risk groups for glaucoma. Some unhealthy lifestyle habits can also increase the risk of glaucoma. In daily life, prolonged use of electronic devices and smaller screens can cause greater damage to the ocular surface; Suddenly drinking a large amount of water may increase intraocular pressure for some people at risk of glaucoma; Turning off lights and playing with electronic devices such as mobile phones can easily cause macular degeneration, while staying up late for a long time can affect endocrine function, disrupt autonomic nervous system function, and ultimately affect intraocular pressure. Protect your eyesight and say "no" to glaucoma. "In daily life, when looking at screens, do not turn off the lights, do not look at electronic devices too close, and do not stay too close. Pay attention to avoiding drinking a lot of water in the short term and eating less stimulating foods. Foods that have a protective effect on the nervous system, such as grape skins and allicin, can be eaten in moderation. Although glaucoma is scary, as long as it is detected, diagnosed, and treated early, the damage to vision can be reduced," said Huang Jingjing. Eyes are the windows to the soul, don't let glaucoma steal your light. From now on, cultivate good habits and take good care of our eyes! (New Society)