Glaucoma is a damage of the optic nerve caused by intraocular pressure. It is one of the main causes of blindness worldwide. The damage is most frequently caused by elevated intraocular pressure, but low pressure and normal pressure glaucoma are also known. In these conditions, the optic nerve is damaged in spite of low intraocular pressure. Damage to the optic nerve caused by glaucoma is irreversible. Early diagnosis and treatment are therefore crucial.

Symptoms

The main symptom of glaucoma is the deterioration of the visual field. Patients will typically be unaware of these until an advanced stage. A visual field test helps to detect a deterioration of the visual field at an early stage allowing early treatment.

In rare cases, elevated intraocular pressure can lead to blurry vision, irritated or red eyes, headaches, and a sensation of pressure in the ocular region or the head.

In most cases, however, glaucoma does not cause any discomfort. This is particularly dangerous as it can prevent early diagnosis and any damage already done is not reversible. Therefore, regular preventive medical check-ups are essential.

Treatment

Glaucoma therapy aims at lowering the intraocular pressure and improving the blood flow of the optic nerve. Therapies include application of eye drops or, more rarely, tablets, as well as laser treatment and surgery.

Prevention

Since glaucoma causes no pain and deterioration of the visual field can remain undetected for a long time, regular medical check-ups are the only option for glaucoma prevention. After the age of 40, the risk of developing glaucoma rises substantially. Regular eye check-ups therefore become more important. We recommend preventive examinations for adults once a year. If you have known cases of glaucoma in your family, preventive examinations are recommended already at a younger age, since glaucoma can be inherited.