What happens if you have glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease, which is characterized with the high intraocular pressure. The disease damages the eye’s optic nerve and can lead to vision loss or blindness.
In case of glaucoma, you may notice such symptoms:
- severe eye or/and head pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- hazed/blurred vision
- sudden vision loss.
Glaucoma patients slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision. They do not see objects out of the eye corner. It seems like looking through a tunnel. The central vision decreases by the time until no vision remains.
How is glaucoma detected?
The risk of developing glaucoma increases dramatically after 40 years. With the onset of this age, ophthalmologists recommend a regular eye examination.
The danger of glaucoma is in mild symptomatology at the initial stages. More than half of the patients turn to ophthalmologists in Germany, when the eye nerve is destroyed by 50-80%.
2 weeks before the diagnosis, the patient needs to remove contact lenses, no additional preparation is required.
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Diagnostics
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Purpose of the procedure
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Description
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Consultation of ophthalmologist
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Create a detailed diagnostic and pre-treatment plan
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Reception at the expert before diagnostic procedures, consultation after reception of their results
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Non-contact tonometry
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Measure the intraocular pressure (IOP)
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For the procedure, the patient puts his head on the stand of the device and fixes the gaze at one point. IOP is measured by air impact. With high eye sensitivity, analgesia with drops is allowed.
The duration of the procedure is 2-3 minutes.
The norm of IOP (intraocular pressure) is 12-25 mm Hg. Art.
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Gonioscopy
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Visually examine the anterior chamber of the eye
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The structure is studied by a gonioscope and a microscope with a built-in lighting device (slit lamp). The patient is sitting, the head is fixed by focusing the forehead and chin in the lamp stand.
Duration of the study - 15 minutes.
Before the procedure it is necessary to measure IOP
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Perimetry
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Investigate the field of view and identify "dark" spots
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It is carried out with the help of a perimeter - a device of a cup-like shape. The patient's focus is on the label. The computer randomly generates sound signals and forms light flashes, the patient records each flash by pressing a button.
The duration of the procedure is from 5 to 15 minutes
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OCT (optical coherence tomography)
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Visually examine and assess the condition of the fundus
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Scanning the structure of the anterior and posterior segments of the eyeball by a tomograph. The patient focuses on a special label, the tomograph operator scans for 2.5-3 seconds. To improve the quality of the pictures, the pupil is dilated with special drops.
The whole procedure lasts no more than 15 minutes
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Methods of glaucoma treatment
The lack of proper treatment of glaucoma leads to a drop in visual acuity and optic atrophy. The main task of treating glaucoma is to prevent complete loss of vision by reducing IOP (pressure inside the eyeball).
A suitable method of treatment ophthalmologist appoints according to the results of diagnosis.
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Treatment method
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Description
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Indications
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Medication Therapy
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Decreased IOP with the help of eye drops. Used drugs not available in the CIS countries
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With chronic open-angle glaucoma
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Laser iridectomy
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In the peripheral part of the iris, a small hole is formed by the laser. This balances the pressure in the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye
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With an angle-closure glaucoma (primary, secondary or mixed)
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Laser trabeculoplasty
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Stretching trabeculae (connective tissue plates), which leads to better circulation of the intraocular fluid and a decrease in pressure in the eye chamber
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In the early stages of open-angle glaucoma
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Trabeculectomy
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Removal of trabecular tissue to accelerate outflow from the anterior eye chamber
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Appointed in severe cases
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Nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy
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Surgical method consists in thinning a small part of the cornea - this stimulates the outflow of moisture and reduces IOP
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With open-angle disease
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Canaloplasty
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Non-penetrating surgical method. The doctor cuts the eye and places a microcatheter into the hole to widen the drainage channel. After the procedure, the catheter is removed, the seam is overlapped
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The method is effective in severe cases
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Technology Trabectome
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Microinvasive procedure, during which the ophthalmologist makes a microscopic incision in the area blocking the outflow of the intraocular fluid
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It is prescribed in the late stages of glaucoma
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Implant EX-PRESS
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Between the inner and outer shells of the eye is placed an express mini-shunt that performs the function of drainage and maintains a normal fluid balance
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The method is effective even at the latest stages of glaucoma, after unsuccessful trabeculectomy
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How does Bookimed help to treat glaucoma?
Glaucoma treatment with Bookimed has some advantages:
- You don’t have to look for medical center yourself. Our Medical Doctor will find the best clinic for glaucoma treatment according your preferences.
- You shouldn’t be concerned about an ophthalmologist competence. Bookimed offers only the best hospitals where highly qualified specialists work.
- You don’t have to make an arrangement with a clinic yourself. Bookimed Doctor will contact a hospital and schedule the trip according your preferences. S/he will be in touch with you from the beginning of the treatment till your coming home.
Do you have any questions?
Submit a request on Bookimed website. Our Medical Doctor will contact you and give all information you need.