Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the medical term for high eye pressure which causes damage to the eyes. There are only two ways to prevent this:
- Early detection by examination through an ophthalmologist
- Strict following of doctor’s orders by the patient
High eye pressure develops when the eye fluid collects inside the eye. In healthy eyes, production and drainage of the eye fluid are well balanced. However, when the eye fluid does not drain properly, it builds up in the eye and raises the eye pressure. This condition of “too much eye fluid“ is called glaucoma. The elevated eye pressure damages the optic nerve, and eyesight diminishes with each destroyed nerve fibre so that a gradual loss of eyesight is often the first sign of glaucoma.
This does not have to happen because there are a number of ways to detect glaucoma early, before it starts to damage the eyesight.
weiter zur Prophylaxe...
This does not have to happen because there are a number of ways to detect glaucoma early, before it starts to damage the eyesight.
zurück zur Definition...
If the ophthalmologist finds the eye pressure is increased, it can be lowered to a normal level by appropriate treatment. Consequently, it is extremely important to take the eye pressure during eye examinations in order to initiate treatment, if necessary, and thus prevent the gradual change or loss of eyesight:
No therapeutic procedure is capable of restoring eyesight that has been changed or lost by elevated intraocular pressure.
No therapeutic procedure is capable of restoring eyesight that has been changed or lost by elevated intraocular pressure.
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1. Chronic open-angle glaucoma – the most common and dangerous type. In most cases, patients are not even aware of the condition. Signs of chronic glaucoma may be:
- pain around the eye
- diminishing eyesight
- halos around light sources.
Frequently the glaucoma develops symptom-free, without causing any trouble at all.
2. Sudden onset glaucoma is a much rarer disease, although it may signal its beginning rather dramatically with the following symptoms:
- considerable loss of eyesight within just one hour
- halos around light sources
- pain
- nausea and vomiting.
3. Another type of glaucoma is caused by other eye diseases such as
- infections
- retinal detachment or by
- cataract.
4. Glaucoma can also be present in children at birth.
If this type of glaucoma is not detected in the baby, the child can go blind. Early signs of congenital glaucoma are photophobia and particularly large, “beautiful” eyes. weiter zur Diagnostik...
zurück zur Prophylaxe...
- pain around the eye
- diminishing eyesight
- halos around light sources.
Frequently the glaucoma develops symptom-free, without causing any trouble at all.
2. Sudden onset glaucoma is a much rarer disease, although it may signal its beginning rather dramatically with the following symptoms:
- considerable loss of eyesight within just one hour
- halos around light sources
- pain
- nausea and vomiting.
3. Another type of glaucoma is caused by other eye diseases such as
- infections
- retinal detachment or by
- cataract.
4. Glaucoma can also be present in children at birth.
If this type of glaucoma is not detected in the baby, the child can go blind. Early signs of congenital glaucoma are photophobia and particularly large, “beautiful” eyes. weiter zur Diagnostik...
zurück zur Prophylaxe...
As already mentioned, chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma and affects people older than 40 years of age. Glaucoma almost always occurs in both eyes rather than just one. Once the ophthalmologist has diagnosed the condition it usually requires lifelong treatment.
Since glaucoma is a hereditary disease, the patient’s family members must be meticulously tested for glaucoma as well.
weiter zur Therapie...
Since glaucoma is a hereditary disease, the patient’s family members must be meticulously tested for glaucoma as well.
zurück zu Symptome...
In most cases it is possible to control glaucoma by regularly using eye drops. The medication either decreases the production of eye fluid or increases its drainage. Regular application of the eye drops at the correct dosage as prescribed in your application schedule is crucial to therapeutic success. If you strictly follow the instructions of your therapy regimen, you can lower your eye pressure to normal levels and thus prevent damage to your eyes.
In some cases, patients respond poorly or not at all to treatment with eye drops. These cases may require
Eye drops
Eye drops are the most important instrument in glaucoma therapy. Since their effect wears off after a certain time, they must be taken several times a day, according to your doctor’s prescription. They should be applied at regular intervals during the hours in which you are awake. If your doctor recommended that you use your eye drops 4 times a day, then you should take them before breakfast, at lunchtime, in the late afternoon and before going to bed. If you strictly follow those recommendations and take your eye drops regularly, your eye pressure will stay within the normal range all day.
It is not unusual for some types of eyedrops to cause a burning sensation and sometimes a headache, especially at the beginning of the treatment. A temporary deterioration of your eyesight might also occur. Some eyedrops cause the pupil, which regulates the amount of light entering the eye, to contract. Should the prescribed eyedrops cause you major problems, do not hesitate to contact us, either by phone or personally. On no account should you discontinue your treatment without informing us. Whether you take one or more drops per dose is of little significance, because only a small portion of the eyedrops has any actual effect.
Can you continue to lead a normal life?
Once the use of medicine or surgery has succeeded in lowering your eye pressure to normal levels you can continue with your normal life at its usual rhythm, including your job and hobbies. You can read or watch tv, you need not keep a special diet, you are allowed to drink coffee, tea and alcohol in reasonable quantities.
Eye check-up at your ophthalmologist
Take your eye drops as usual on the day of your check-up visit. You should visit your ophthalmologist at regular intervals for a check-up of your eyes.
During a check-up your eye doctor will test your eyesight and, with a special measuring device, your eye pressure. Eye pressure measurement is completely painless. At pre-set regular intervals, the doctor will perform a thorough ophthalmoscopy and measure your visual field with special equipment. At larger intervals, a contact lens will be placed on your eye in order to closely examine the eye’s drainage system and the spot where the optic nerve leaves the eye. The findings of this examination will be recorded in your case file.
This test is totally painless as well. All above described tests are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of the eye drops that you have been prescribed and to determine at which intervals you have to take them.
It is very important to have these tests at regular intervals, and you should meticulously keep your appointments with your ophthalmologist.
Regular check-ups are the best glaucoma therapy. zurück zur Definition
zurück zur Diagnostik...
In some cases, patients respond poorly or not at all to treatment with eye drops. These cases may require
- laser treatment (argon-ion laser trabeculoplasty) as a supplementary therapy to lower the eye pressure.
- In rare cases, surgery is required to treat glaucoma (filtering glaucoma surgery).
Eye drops
Eye drops are the most important instrument in glaucoma therapy. Since their effect wears off after a certain time, they must be taken several times a day, according to your doctor’s prescription. They should be applied at regular intervals during the hours in which you are awake. If your doctor recommended that you use your eye drops 4 times a day, then you should take them before breakfast, at lunchtime, in the late afternoon and before going to bed. If you strictly follow those recommendations and take your eye drops regularly, your eye pressure will stay within the normal range all day.
It is not unusual for some types of eyedrops to cause a burning sensation and sometimes a headache, especially at the beginning of the treatment. A temporary deterioration of your eyesight might also occur. Some eyedrops cause the pupil, which regulates the amount of light entering the eye, to contract. Should the prescribed eyedrops cause you major problems, do not hesitate to contact us, either by phone or personally. On no account should you discontinue your treatment without informing us. Whether you take one or more drops per dose is of little significance, because only a small portion of the eyedrops has any actual effect.
Can you continue to lead a normal life?
Once the use of medicine or surgery has succeeded in lowering your eye pressure to normal levels you can continue with your normal life at its usual rhythm, including your job and hobbies. You can read or watch tv, you need not keep a special diet, you are allowed to drink coffee, tea and alcohol in reasonable quantities.
Eye check-up at your ophthalmologist
Take your eye drops as usual on the day of your check-up visit. You should visit your ophthalmologist at regular intervals for a check-up of your eyes.
During a check-up your eye doctor will test your eyesight and, with a special measuring device, your eye pressure. Eye pressure measurement is completely painless. At pre-set regular intervals, the doctor will perform a thorough ophthalmoscopy and measure your visual field with special equipment. At larger intervals, a contact lens will be placed on your eye in order to closely examine the eye’s drainage system and the spot where the optic nerve leaves the eye. The findings of this examination will be recorded in your case file.
This test is totally painless as well. All above described tests are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of the eye drops that you have been prescribed and to determine at which intervals you have to take them.
It is very important to have these tests at regular intervals, and you should meticulously keep your appointments with your ophthalmologist.
Regular check-ups are the best glaucoma therapy. zurück zur Definition
zurück zur Diagnostik...
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