Glaucoma Increase in Young People's Blind Diseases...associated with an increase in highly myopic patients
Dec 31, 2024
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Recently, the number of glaucoma patients is gradually increasing due to changes in the living environment, such as Western eating habits, the daily use of electronic devices, and lack of exercise, especially among young people, so caution is needed.
Our eyes have waterproof (liquid in the eye) that nourishes the lens and cornea and keeps the eye pressure constant.
Glaucoma is caused by excessive waterproofing or a problem with discharge, which increases intraocular pressure, compressing the optic nerve or impairing the supply of blood flow to the optic nerve. Early detection and steady management through regular checkups are essential because there are few self-awareness symptoms in the early stages, making it difficult to detect and recover once the optic nerve is damaged.
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of glaucoma patients increased by about 88% in 2023 compared to 2013, of which 10% were young glaucoma patients aged 20 to 39. What is more worrisome is that the number of metabolic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes or highly myopic patients is continuously increasing recently.
Metabolic syndrome is a metabolic disorder group characterized by excessive visceral fat, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia and has been reported to increase the risk of developing glaucoma. According to a study based on the 2019-2021 National Health and Nutrition Survey, the prevalence of glaucoma in the group with metabolic syndrome was 5.7%, higher than the 3.5% in the group without metabolic syndrome.
In addition, in the case of highly myopia patients known to be highly related to glaucoma, the length of the front and back of the eye is relatively longer than that of the normal eye, so the thickness of the structure supporting the eye is thin and weak, which is likely to damage the optic nerve. The recent increase in the use of digital devices and the increasing number of highly myopic patients are also known to be related to the increase in young glaucoma patients.
Glaucoma may have already progressed a lot when symptoms are recognized because abnormal findings gradually appear only after more than 30% of the optic nerve is damaged. The first way to be tried with glaucoma treatment is to control eye pressure through eye drops. Eye drops are prescribed by comprehensively considering the individual's eye condition and existing drugs through consultation with a specialist. In particular, if you visit an ophthalmic medical institution that deals with various drugs necessary for ophthalmic treatment, including new drugs, you can be prescribed drugs that are more suitable for you, helping to increase the effectiveness of treatment.
Jeong Jong-jin, a specialist at the Glaucoma Center at Kim Ophthalmology Hospital, said "Glaucoma is difficult to recognize in the early stages, so if you are over 40 years old, you should have a regular checkup once a year, and if you find any abnormalities, you should consult an ophthalmologist immediately to receive proper treatment early.""Glaucoma is a disease that is affected by daily habits, so steady management such as aerobic exercise, smoking cessation, and abstaining from alcohol is also very important in the extent that regular sleep and intraocular pressure are not strained.'
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
