2023-04-19 10:23:47
Next Sunday, April 23, is the International Book Day. For this reason, today in the entry to our Health blog we are going to talk about one of the most serious pathologies that can affect our eyes: glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, after cataracts. It is a chronic disease, which can cause progressive vision loss. Most frequently, it initially affects peripheral vision, so in the initial phases the change in vision is small and the patient may not notice anything.
The hospitals of the Ribera health group have outstanding Ophthalmology services that are committed to the prevention of this disease and also provide the necessary treatments for cases in which glaucoma has advanced.
What causes glaucoma
Glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve that carries information from the eye to the brain, usually due to elevated intraocular pressure. It is more common in people over 60 years of age and one of the hardest certainties of this pathology is that the damage that occurs is irreversible.
The ophthalmologist at the Ribera Polusa Hospital, Eduardo Iglesias, explains, however, that although “the main risk factor for glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure, there are glaucomas with an ocular pressure that is within the normal range.” He explains that diabetes, venous obstructions, trauma, myopia or treatment with corticosteroids can also act as triggers.
This specialist assures that in Galicia and some Nordic countries the pseudoexfoliation syndrome is prevalent, which he defines as “a disorder in which flakes of material accumulate on the edge of the pupil, in the lens and in the different structures, mainly in the the anterior or frontal part of the eye, which obstructs the drainage of the aqueous humor”. It is believed, explains Dr. Iglesias, that the prevalence of this syndrome in certain geographical areas is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
In any of the cases, all the specialists of the Ribera group emphasize the importance of making an early diagnosis. Because if this pathology is detected in time and appropriate treatment is given, vision can be preserved and the problem can be stopped.
How to detect glaucoma. Risk factor’s.
The big problem with glaucoma is that it has no symptoms. Hence, the ophthalmologist at the Ribera Polusa hospital, Eduardo Iglesias, insists on the importance of regular check-ups. “When the patient presents symptoms, such as reduced vision or visual field, the disease is already advanced,” he says.
Dr. Iglesias also explains that glaucoma has a hereditary component. “There are two types, juvenile glaucoma and primary congenital glaucoma, in which gene mutations have been found, but in the rest of the types it is a multifactorial disease”, he assures. In any case, he adds, “those with a family history have a ten times greater risk of suffering from glaucoma than the rest of the population.”
This disease usually affects both eyes, although in some cases it only occurs in one. “Simple chronic glaucoma is usually bilateral, although the involvement can be asymmetric. For example, in pathologies such as venous obstruction, it may be that only one eye is affected”, explains Dr. Iglesias.
If one of your parents has glaucoma, it is advisable to carry out a more specific follow-up of the eyes, with periodic check-ups, in order to make the diagnosis as soon as possible, before the loss of vision.
What is the treatment for glaucoma: drops and laser
The most common treatment for glaucoma is drugs in the form of drops and consistency and compliance with treatment is very important. “If gout is forgotten one day, nothing happens, but repeated forgetfulness can make the treatment ineffective and the patient continue to lose vision,” say the specialists from the group consulted.
Dr. Iglesias explains that, if the treatment in the form of drops is ineffective, different types of lasers can be used and, as a last resort, surgery. “Laser treatment is a procedure called trabeculoplasty, and it consists of making a series of shots directed at a specific area of the chamber angle, in such a way that it increases the drainage of the aqueous humor, and intraocular tension is reduced, although it does not work in all cases”, explains the specialist.
Surgery as a last resort
“Surgery tries to create a diversion of the intraocular fluid (aqueous humor) towards the outside (below the conjunctiva), seeking to reduce intraocular pressure”, explains Dr. Iglesias. In the most complex cases of surgery, so-called valves are used.
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