Kaşkaloğlu Eye Hospital physicians, Op. Dr. Sedat Selim emphasized that early diagnosis and treatment can prevent vision loss in glaucoma that progresses without symptoms.
Stating that there are approximately 70 million glaucoma patients worldwide and approximately 1.5 – 2 million of them are in our country, Op. Dr. Sedat Selim said that glaucoma is seen in our society at a rate of 2% over the age of 40 and 10% over the age of 60.
HALF OF THOSE WITH GLUCOMA DON'T KNOW THEY ARE SICK
Emphasizing that nearly half of the patients were unaware of the disease since glaucoma did not show any symptoms at the beginning, Selim gave the following information: “Glaucoma is a disease that causes vision loss because the pressure in the eye rises to such an extent that it destroys the optic nerve. High intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve and, if left untreated, can lead to vision loss leading to blindness. If the discharge of the produced eye fluid is prevented, the intraocular pressure increases and open-angle eye pressure disease (glaucoma) occurs. This is the most common form of glaucoma. In the rare closed-angle type of glaucoma, the eye pressure reaches very high values, causing severe pain and blurred vision. This is usually observed in hyperopia patients.
IT IS GOING SLIGHTLY
Noting that glaucoma progresses insidiously, Op. Dr. Sedat Selim said, “In glaucoma, there are usually no symptoms at the beginning, there is no visual disturbance and pain. If the disease is not diagnosed early and progresses, blind spots occur in the visual field due to damage to the optic nerve. Then, as if looking through a pipe, the surrounding objects become invisible. In patients who reach this point, 50% of the visual nerves are lost. The leading risk factors are the presence of glaucoma in the family, long-term cortisone therapy, intraocular inflammation (uveitis), advanced age, diabetes, high or low body blood pressure, high myopia or hyperopia, eye injuries, migraine and anemia.
SEE A SPECIALIST REGULARLY
Stating that there are 3 different treatment methods for glaucoma, Selim continued his words as follows: “These are drops and drug therapy, SLT Laser therapy and, at the last stage, surgical intervention. With these interventions, the intraocular fluid pressure is stabilized by reducing. In this way, damage to the optic nerves is prevented. If the disease is diagnosed early, a success rate of 90% can be achieved in the treatment. Measuring intraocular pressure alone is not sufficient to diagnose this disease.
Everyone over the age of 40 should be checked by specialist physicians in a fully equipped eye center.
