Glaucoma
What is it?
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that progressively destroys the optic nerve, often as a result of excessively high intraocular pressure. This painless disease can lead to irreversible vision loss if not detected and treated in time.
The different types of glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma (most common – 90% of cases)
Develops slowly over several years.
Increased pressure in the eye gradually damages the optic nerve.
No symptoms at first: peripheral vision gradually disappears.
Angle-closure glaucoma (rarer, but a medical emergency)
Sudden increase in pressure in the eye.
Severe symptoms: intense pain, redness, blurred vision, nausea.
Must be treated immediately to avoid blindness.
Congenital glaucoma (rare, in infants)
Malformation of the eye preventing the evacuation of intraocular fluid.
Symptoms: watery eyes, photophobia, corneal opacification.
Normal-tension glaucoma
The optic nerve is damaged even with normal eye pressure.
Often linked to poor blood flow to the optic nerve.
Causes and risk factors
✅ Age (increased risk after age 40).
✅ Family history (genetic factor).
✅ Ocular hypertension (excessively high intraocular pressure).
✅ Severe myopia or hyperopia.
✅ Diabetes, cardiovascular disease.
✅ Prolonged treatment with corticosteroids.
Glaucoma symptoms
❌ Open-angle glaucoma: no symptoms at first → screening essential!
❌ Advanced glaucoma: narrowing of the visual field, impression of “tunnel vision”.
❌ Acute glaucoma: pain, redness, sudden blurred vision, light halos.
How is glaucoma diagnosed?
👁 Measurement of intraocular pressure (tonometry).
👁 Optic nerve examination (OCT, fundus).
👁 Visual field test (perimetry).
Regular screening is recommended after the age of 40, especially if risk factors are present.
Glaucoma treatment
🚫 No cure, but progression can be slowed:
🔹 Eye drops: reduce intraocular pressure.
🔹 Laser (trabeculoplasty, iridotomy): improves drainage of ocular fluid.
🔹 Surgery (trabeculectomy, drainage implants): in case of failure of previous treatments.