No Widgets Added

Please add some widget in Offcanvs Sidebar

Shopping cart

Subtotal ₺0,00

View cartCheckout

APPOINTMENT!

Glaucoma (Eye Pressure) Monitoring and Treatment

Glaucoma (Eye Pressure) Monitoring and Treatment: What is it? What are its symptoms? How is it treated?

GlaucomaGlaucoma is a serious eye disease that occurs when intraocular pressure reaches a level that damages the optic nerve and can eventually lead to vision loss. Because glaucoma, commonly known as "eye pressure," can progress without symptoms in its early stages, regular eye exams and long-term follow-up are crucial.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma occurs when the fluid produced within the eye (aqueous humor) cannot drain properly, leading to increased intraocular pressure and damage to the optic nerve. The damage is progressive and irreversible, but it can be stopped or slowed with early diagnosis.

Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?

Although glaucoma can occur at any age, the following groups are particularly at risk:

  • Individuals over 40 years of age

  • Those with a family history of glaucoma

  • Those diagnosed with high eye pressure

  • Patients with diabetes, hypertension or migraine

  • Long-term cortisone users

  • Those with myopia or hyperopia

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma is usually without any symptoms It progresses, and by the time patients realize they have optic nerve damage, they may have already developed it. However, in some types (acute angle-closure glaucoma), the following symptoms may appear suddenly:

  • Severe pain in the eye

  • Blurred vision

  • Seeing halos around lights

  • Redness in the eyes

  • Nausea and vomiting

These symptoms require immediate intervention.

Glaucoma (Eye Pressure) Monitoring and Treatment: What is it? What are its symptoms? How is it treated?

How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?

A comprehensive eye examination is required to diagnose glaucoma. The main tests performed include:

  • Intraocular pressure measurement (tonometry)

  • Optic nerve evaluation (optic nerve head examination)

  • Visual field test

  • OCT (optical coherence tomography) Nerve fiber thickness measurement with

  • Angle evaluation (gonioscopy)

Regular follow-up after diagnosis is very important to keep the disease under control.

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

The primary goal of glaucoma treatment is to protect the optic nerve by reducing intraocular pressure. Treatment is determined by the patient's type of glaucoma and the degree of disease progression:

1. Eye Drops:

It is the first step in treatment. It reduces intraocular fluid production or increases fluid outflow.

2. Laser Treatment (Laser Trabeculoplasty):

It can be used in open-angle glaucoma. It facilitates the outflow of eye fluid.

3. Surgical Treatment (Trabeculectomy, tube implants):

It is applied in advanced cases or in cases where there is no adequate response to medications.

Why is Glaucoma Monitoring Important?

Glaucoma is a chronic disease and cannot be cured completely; however, With regular follow-up and treatment, vision loss can be stopped.Patients are called for regular follow-up appointments to monitor treatment response, monitor visual field loss, and assess medication compliance. Follow-up frequency varies depending on the stage of the disease.

Advantages of Treatment

  • The progression of vision loss is slowed or stopped

  • Healthy vision can be preserved throughout life with early diagnosis.

  • Prevents unnoticed progressive nerve damage

  • Drop dependency can be reduced with laser and surgical methods.

  • Helps maintain quality of life

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Glaucoma is a chronic disease; however, it can be kept under control with early diagnosis and regular treatment.

Yes. There is also "normal-tension glaucoma," a type of glaucoma where eye pressure is within normal limits but nerve damage is present. Therefore, simply measuring blood pressure is not sufficient.

Depending on the stage of the disease, follow-up visits are generally recommended every 3 to 6 months. In more advanced cases, follow-up intervals are shortened.

Yes. Individuals with a family history of glaucoma are at higher risk. Therefore, it's important for those with a family history of glaucoma to have regular eye exams starting at age 40.

Despite appropriate treatment, the risk of progression cannot be eliminated completely, but with early intervention and regular follow-up, this risk is greatly reduced.