Glaucoma is not a single disease, but a group of different diseases.
What they all have in common is that there is increasing damage to the optic nerve as the disease progresses. This leads to a progressive restriction of the visual field. If the disease is not treated or is treated inadequately, only a very central residual function of the visual field remains in the late stages and complete blindness can even occur. Eye pressure is the most important risk factor for the development of glaucoma.
The diagnosis of glaucoma can be difficult. The patient usually has no symptoms in the early stages. Glaucoma does not hurt, vision is normal and a glaucoma patient’s appearance is not noticeable. The visual field defect is only noticed very late. Glaucoma can therefore only be detected during a preventive examination by an ophthalmologist. It is often difficult for patients to understand and accept that they need to take medication and have regular check-ups throughout their lives.
It can also be difficult for doctors to make a clear diagnosis in the early stages of glaucoma. Glaucoma is often suspected at first. In such cases, the patient must be observed and monitored over a longer period of time before a reliable diagnosis can be made and, if necessary, treatment initiated.
The insidious thing about glaucoma is that once the damage has occurred, it cannot be reversed even with optimal therapy. Only the progression can be delayed or stopped. Early detection and follow-up checks are therefore of the utmost importance in glaucoma. We also recommend that healthy people undergo an ophthalmological examination for early detection of glaucoma from the age of 40 at the latest. Depending on the findings, check-ups are then recommended at longer or shorter intervals.
The aim of treating glaucoma is to reduce the pressure in the eye. There is only sufficient evidence for this. In many cases, this goal can be achieved with eye drops or laser treatments. If this is not or no longer possible, an operation may be necessary. There are now many different surgical procedures that take into account the stage of the disease as well as the patient’s personal factors. The operation itself is a routine procedure, but requires intensive and careful aftercare. It also does not lead to an improvement in vision, but only serves to reduce pressure and stop the deterioration of the disease. Occasionally, visual acuity may even be slightly worse temporarily after the operation.
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