Glaucoma

Glaucoma

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease related to damage to the optic nerve (a bundle of more than a million nerve fibres that connects the retina to the brain) as a result of an abnormal increase in pressure within the eye.

Under normal conditions, there is a fluid called aqueous humour inside the eye, which is continuously produced and reabsorbed by specific ocular structures. When the drainage pathways become obstructed, the increased aqueous humour in turn generates an increase in ocular pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve.

This pathology can be distinguished into Primary Glaucoma when the increase in intraocular pressure is caused by obstruction of the drainage pathways or excessive production of aqueous humour, or Secondary Glaucoma if it is related to other problems, such as degenerative diseases, tumours, eye trauma, inflammatory diseases, etc. 

Glaucoma is one of the most frequent causes of irreversible blindness, which is why it is important to diagnose it early and treat it properly.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease that does not show any particular symptoms in its early stages, as the eye pressure increases gradually and the optic damage sets in slowly.

When the patient begins to show signs such as an alteration in the visual field or reduced vision, the disease may already be at an advanced stage, with no chance of recovering the neuronal damage that has been established. For this reason, it is important to act preventively by checking the ocular tone during regular check-ups by the ophthalmologist.

Causes of Glaucoma

Some conditions that increase the possibility of developing Glaucoma are: 

  • Age: the incidence of the disease increases as we age
  • Ethnic origin: Africans and Asians are more likely to develop certain types of Glaucoma
  • Family history: the presence of cases in the family increases the risk of developing the disease
  • Other conditions such as Myopia, Hyperopia and Diabetes

Glaucoma Diagnosis

Glaucoma is diagnosed by an eye examination, during which the doctor performs the following instrumental tests: 

  • Tonometry: to measure intraocular pressure
  • Ophthalmoscopy: for an objective examination of the optic nerve
  • Perimetry: to measure the visual field and retinal sensitivity
  • Pachymetry: to assess the thickness of the cornea

Treatment of Glaucoma

The damage caused by Glaucoma is irreversible. However, its evolution can be prevented by the following therapies: 
 

  • Pharmacological therapy: this is based on the use of eye drops that reduce the production of aqueous humour in the eye or promote its outflow. Glaucoma therapy is usually long-term and therefore requires constant treatment
  • Laser therapy: by using argon or diode lasers, with structural action to promote the outflow of aqueous humour, thus ensuring a decrease in eye pressure. This type of intervention is carried out on an outpatient basis, under topical (drops) or local anaesthesia (peribulbar or retrobulbar puncture) and generally does not require any hospitalisation.
  • Surgical therapy: glaucoma surgery, which is designed to help drain the eye fluid and thus lower the pressure in the eye, is indicated in cases where medical and laser therapy have not been effective.

Treatment of Glaucoma - Recovery Time

Recovery times vary according to the type of surgery performed. It ranges from just over a week for non-filtering surgery to a month's convalescence for filtering surgery: sudden drops in the eye's pressure can cause transitory detachments of the choroid.

Absolute rest and close monitoring of the patient are recommended for the success of the treatment.

Possible Intervention Techniques

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery is a surgical procedure that is performed with small gauge instruments and devices.

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Glaucoma

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