News. Laser Vision correction. ArtLife Ophtalmologic Centre

Glaucoma

14.01.2025

GlaukomaGlaucoma is a chronic, progressive degenerative eye disease. It is characterised by increased intraocular pressure and progressive atrophy of the optic nerve (second cranial nerve), which is responsible for transmitting visual information through the connection between the retina and the visual cortex in the brain. If the optic nerve is totally damaged, it can lead to complete loss of vision.

The most common symptoms of glaucoma

Glaucoma may cause virtually no symptoms for a long time. However, once the symptoms become noticeable, they may occur in various configurations, depending on the type of glaucoma. They may include the following:

  • increased intraocular pressure,
  • deterioration of visual acuity,
  • eye pain and hyperemia (bloodshot eyes),
  • headaches in the frontal lobe (forehead),
  • light effects: circles around light sources (the halo effect) or scotomas,
  • photophobia,
  • nausea,
  • defects in the vision field,
  • dilation and immobility of the pupils,
  • frequent tearing.

Two major types of glaucoma

Depending on the symptoms and etiology, we can distinguish a few types of glaucoma. It may be classified as primary or secondary. In the case of primary glaucoma, the structure of the eye is abnormal and the damage to the optic nerve progresses spontaneously and continuously. Secondary glaucoma is a consequence of another disease and may be the result of eye trauma, inflammation, taking certain medications (steroids), advanced cataract or diabetes.

Open angle glaucoma

It is the most frequently diagnosed type of glaucoma, affecting up to 80% of all patients. It develops when the outflow of aqueous humour in the eye is limited. In consequence, intraocular pressure slowly increases and the optic nerve is gradually damaged. This type of glaucoma is painless, does not initially cause any obvious symptoms and may develop over years.

Angle-closure glaucoma

When the iris is very close to the outflow angle of the eye, the outflow angle can be blocked. Then we talk about angle-closure glaucoma.When the outflow becomes completely blocked, the pressure in the eye increases dramatically and very quickly.  This phenomenon is called an acute glaucoma attack. It is an emergency condition which requires the intervention of an ophthalmologist, otherwise it leads to vision loss.

Diagnostics and treatment

Regular ophthalmologist’s appointments will allow a quick diagnosis of the disease at an early stage. If ailments appear that may indicate the presence of glaucoma, broader, more accurate diagnostics should be conducted in the form of tests such as the following:

  • tonometry, i.e. intraocular pressure measurement,
  • pachymetry, i.e. corneal thickness measurement,
  • microscopic examination, allowing an assessment of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye,
  • optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment of the eye,
  • examination of the second cranial nerve’s disc,
  • 3D assessment of the anterior segment of the eye (topography).

Glaucoma is a disease that cannot be completely treated. However, it is possible to alleviate its symptoms by slowing down the progression of the disease and maintain relatively good visual acuity, and thus improve the patient’s comfort.  Normally, pharmacological treatment (in the form of eye drops) is implemented first to lower the intraocular pressure.

At a more advanced stage of glaucoma, surgical procedures can be performed, including trabeculectomy or laser treatments, such as selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) or laser basal iridotomy.

Untreated glaucoma leads to complete blindness. Therefore, it is crucial to have your eyes tested regularly. Try to schedule check-up appointments to monitor your health at least every two years, and if you have a refractive error, you should attend ophthalmological examinations every year.

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