WHAT IS GLAUCOMA (HIGH EYE PRESSURE)?

Glaucoma is one of the most serious eye diseases that causes progressive weakening of the optic nerve due to increased intraocular pressure, resulting in vision loss, and vision loss cannot be regained. Glaucoma causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve.

HOW IS GLAUCOMA DIAGNOSED?

Especially in the most common type of glaucoma, called chronic open-angle glaucoma, if the intraocular pressure is not at high levels, the disease progresses insidiously without any symptoms. Glaucoma is only noticed during routine examinations. Early diagnosis is of great importance in glaucoma. Therefore, especially people aged 40 and over should have a fundus examination and eye pressure measurement at least once a year.

However, some patients may experience symptoms such as severe eye pain, headache, blurred vision, eye redness, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting, which is called acute glaucoma crisis and occurs with a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. In this case, diagnosis is very easy and immediate treatment is required.

GLAUCOMA IS A SERIOUS DISEASE THAT CAUSES VISION LOSS IF NOT DIAGNOSED EARLY.

Glaucoma often does not cause any symptoms until later stages and is a disease that is difficult to detect without a doctor’s examination. Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease with no characteristic symptoms that progresses slowly but continuously progresses, gradually causing eye damage and vision loss. Since it is a disease that, if left untreated, will definitely cause complete loss of vision, when diagnosed, the nature and seriousness of the disease should be clearly explained to the patient and the patient’s relatives by the doctor.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF GLAUCOMA?

Glaucoma is mainly seen in two types: open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma.

1) OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA: 85-90% of glaucomas are of this type. In patients with open-angle glaucoma, the disease continues its insidious course without any obvious symptoms and the patient may not be aware of his disease. However, as he approaches the final period, he feels that his vision is deteriorating and decreasing. However, in patients with this condition, the optic nerve is largely damaged and the visual field is very narrow. It is generally more common in people aged 40 and over. That’s why these people need to have regular eye examinations.

2) CLOSED ANGLE GLAUCOMA: It constitutes 5-10% of glaucoma patients. This type of glaucoma presents with a very noisy picture, in contrast to open-angle glaucoma. In this situation, called acute glaucoma crisis, sudden severe pain in the eye, redness, blurring and decrease of vision, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting may occur. This high eye pressure must be urgently reduced with medication. Laser application or glaucoma surgery may be required for the continuation of treatment.