Glaucoma

This is a term used for a specific type of damage to the eye where, in essence, it is actually the optical nerve that is damaged. It is assumed that the cause of the damage is high intraocular pressure, but this need not be the only cause. We have known of cases, where high intraocular pressure was not confirmed. The primary causes of increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma are many ranging from infection through to disfunction in the regulation of the formation of intraocular fluid to blockage of the drainage canals for such fluid.

The most treacherous aspect of this disease is the fact that to begin with it is usually entirely without symptoms. It is only possible to discover the onset of this disease or its high risks factors (such as increased intraocular pressure) during a through medical examination. It is the risk of glaucoma in particular that stands behind the need for regular eye check-ups. Only once the glaucoma develops there will be unnoticeable loss of the field of vision, later this will manifest itself as obvious problems with peripheral vision and blurry edge of the field of vision.

It is at this point that patients usually realise something is wrong and seek out medical help. This is usually already a bit too late. The subsequent treatment will never be able to bring back the eye’s original abilities because the damage to the optical nerve is irreversible. It is only possible to reduce the intraocular pressure and thus stop further destruction of vision.

Treatment

Majority of all patients suffering from chronic glaucoma with an open angle may be successfully treated by eye drops that lower the intraocular pressure.

Several types of treatment exist. Eye drops that lower the intraocular pressure (either through the reduction of the formation of the intraocular fluid or through improvements to its drainage) are usually perfectly sufficient in incipient glaucoma. In more serious cases, it becomes necessary to perform a surgical procedure to widen these canals. A surgical procedure – making a peripheral iridectomy or laser iridectomy – is usually a good prevention from further eventual fits of this disease.