Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

This pathology is caused by damage to the optic nerve, usually caused by an increase in eye pressure. Glaucoma leads to irreparable damage to the optic nerve, which causes a progressive loss of vision that can even lead to total blindness.

Symptoms

Frequent change of glasses.
Difficulty seeing in dark places.
Loss of peripheral vision.

These symptoms are not always signs of glaucoma. By the time a patient begins to notice visual impairment, his or her vision may already have been significantly affected. For this reason, glaucoma is known as the silent eye disease , since it does not give any warning (the symptoms do not cause pain or discomfort).

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to preserve vision by reducing intraocular pressure.

In the initial treatment of the disease, eye drops are usually used to reduce the pressure in the eye, but in some cases the reduction in pressure may be insufficient and surgical treatment may be necessary.

How to prevent glaucoma

The glaucoma screening test is quick and painless. Everyone over 35 years of age should have their intraocular pressure (IOP) measured at least once a year and have an eye examination to assess the state of the optic nerve.

If the pressure is borderline or the optic nerve looks suspicious of glaucoma, specific tests will be performed and the person will be monitored more frequently.

About glaucoma:

Glaucoma is known as the silent eye disease.
It is very important to monitor intraocular pressure (IOP).
Periodic eye examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes glaucoma?

Elevated intraocular pressure: The higher the pressure in the eye, the easier it is for nerve damage called glaucoma to occur.
Family history of glaucoma: having a father, mother or siblings with glaucoma increases the risk of developing the disease. An eye exam is advisable if you have close relatives with glaucoma.
Myopia: Eyes with myopia have optic nerves more susceptible to injury than non-myopic eyes.
Old ocular trauma.
Normal pressure: A type of glaucoma called normotensive glaucoma can appear despite having normal pressure, which is why it is very important to have an annual check-up with fundus examination and optic nerve study.