Have you ever fallen in the dark? That frequently occurs when there is no electricity. However, people with vision impairment experience similar things more regularly in their daily lives. People can suffer from a variety of eye issues. According to WHO statistics, more than 2.2 billion people worldwide have vision problems.

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation programs are helping people with vision exercises. Also, these customized programs can accommodate vision therapy at home for better results.  

The eye condition Glaucoma is one of these that frequently affects people. It is a collection of vision issues that harm the optic nerve. The optic nerve acts as a messenger between the eye and the brain and ensures a vision of 6/6. High eye pressure frequently causes damage to the optic nerve. However, this vision problem can develop with normal eye pressure as well.

Some types of Glaucoma don’t present any symptoms. You might not notice a change in vision until the condition is advanced because the effect is so gradual. Additionally, it is the leading cause of blindness in people over 60 years of age. However, disease-related vision loss can be avoided with proper care and routine eye exams. But it requires lifelong management or treatment if diagnosed positive.

Causes of Glaucoma

Your eye contains a substance called aqueous humor, which typically exits the eye through a mesh-like channel. The blockage in this channel causes the eye to begin producing too much fluid, which then accumulates. Even experts, however, are occasionally unable to identify the root causes of this obstruction. However, it is heritable and can be transmitted from parents to offspring.

Types of Glaucoma

Significant types of disease are: 

Open-Angle Glaucoma 

This is the most prevalent type. Your doctor might also use the term “wide-angle glaucoma.” Although the trabecular meshwork in your eye, which serves as a drain, seems to be in good condition, fluid doesn’t leave the eye as it should.

Angle-closure Glaucoma

This is more frequent in Asia. Angle-closure, acute, and chronic types of disease can also go by narrow-angle Glaucoma. Your eye stops draining as it should because the drain space between your iris and cornea gets too small. Because of this, your eye pressure might unexpectedly rise. In addition, it is linked to cataracts, lens clouding in the eye, and farsightedness.

Secondary Glaucoma 

This occurs when your eye develops additional pressure due to a different condition, such as diabetes or cataracts.

Normal-tension Glaucoma 

When your eye pressure is within the normal range, but you still have blind spots in your vision or damage to your optic nerve, this is what is happening. According to some experts, it is a type of open-angle Glaucoma.

Pigmentary Glaucoma 

This form causes the drainage canals in your eye to become clogged by minute particles of pigment from your iris, the colored part of your eye.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Most people with open-angle Glaucoma don’t have any symptoms. Typically, symptoms don’t appear until much later in the illness. Typically, a loss of peripheral vision is the main symptom.

The signs and symptoms of angle-closure Glaucoma typically manifest earlier and are more severe. Damage could happen suddenly. If you experience any of these signs, get medical help immediately:

• Observing the halo around the lights
• Vision loss
• Eye redness
• Hazy-looking eye (most common in infants)
• Vomiting or stomach pains 
• Eye pain

Diagnosis of Glaucoma

The test for this disease is quick and painless. An eye doctor will evaluate your vision. Your pupils will be dilated with drops as they examine your eyes.

A check-up of the optic nerve is also advised for any related symptoms. After two eye clinic visits, they may use photographs to document the changes. A tonometry test is also recommended to measure the pressure in your eyes. They might also perform a visual field test to determine if you have lost peripheral vision.

Your doctor may request specialized imaging tests of your optic nerve if they suspect the disease.

Role of Virtual Reality in the diagnosis

Diagnostic exams are quick and painless, but because most people don’t experience symptoms, they could lose all or some of their vision before getting diagnosed.

According to a JAMA Ophthalmology, America report, a study involving 98 people with eye disease and 50 healthy people was conducted. They made use of five interactive Virtual Reality environments that replicated everyday activities.

According to their findings, virtual reality technology can be beneficial in locating vision issues caused by eye disease. Additionally, their research shows a connection between task and lighting in the patients and vision-related impairment. Virtual reality could provide a new paradigm for evaluating vision-related disability and assist eye care professionals in better understanding how visual impairment affects people’s ability to function in daily life.

Conclusion

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation programs are also helpful for maintaining strong and healthy eyes. You can choose a Vision Therapy at home with simple visual instructions that provide various exercises jumbled up at random for a single session. Each set includes fundamental activities that cause your eye muscles to contract and relax as necessary to maintain proper function. In addition to Glaucoma, it aids in diagnosing other vision disorders.