Is Glaucoma A Symptom Of Lupus
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Glaucoma is a condition where there is increased intra ocular pressure on the eyes. This pressure causes unwanted damage to the optic nerve. The latter is responsible for transporting visual signals from the eyes to the brain. Any damage to the optic nerve will result in visual impairment and blindness in extreme cases. This chronic disease takes many years to develop and may not show symptoms immediately making diagnosis a little difficult. Nearly four million Americans are affected by glaucoma. As per the WHO, this is the second leading cause for blindness in people the world over.
Lupus on the other hand is an auto-immune disorder where the body recognizes its own tissues and cells as foreign substances. In such cases, body produces antibodies to fight these “foreign substances” leading to numerous degenerative changes. This is a serious disorder and can result in death sometimes. However, with early diagnosis, the condition can be treated and kept under control.
The chances of the body’s immune system attacking the optic nerve are high in patients suffering from lupus. There are increased chances of the immune system identifying the optic nerve as a foreign substance and attacking it with antibodies. Lupus is also believed to cause inflammation. This in turn exerts an immense amount of pressure on the optic nerve causing considerable damage. Therefore, lupus can be one of the reasons for causing glaucoma. However, numerous other disease conditions like diabetes and hypertension can also lead to glaucoma. Therefore, lupus cannot be solely blamed for causing glaucoma in all individuals.
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