[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_center” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”3px||3px|||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.9″ custom_padding=”5px||4px|||”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.9″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/laserlens.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/vision-1.png” alt=”vision 1″ title_text=”vision (1)” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ width=”35%”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.9″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.9″ header_font=”Open Sans||||||||” header_text_color=”#216477″ header_font_size=”32px” custom_margin=”0.5vw||||false|false” header_text_align_tablet=”center” header_text_align_phone=”” header_text_align_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_font_size_phone=”24px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n
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Glaucoma is an eye disease, insidious, irreversible, and can cause blindness if not treated in time. It is due to the intraocular pressure of the eye which causes destruction of the optic nerve and loss of vision. The optic nerve carries the visual stimuli from the eye to the brain and causing damage to a bundle of these fibers of the optic nerve leads to a reduction or even loss of vision in the part of the space to which it corresponds. Glaucoma affects 2% of the population.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Info” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0.58)” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/laserlens.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/family-doctor-035.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_center” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”3px|||||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.9″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#ffffff” open_toggle_background_color=”#216477″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#216477″ icon_color=”#216477″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”20px” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ toggle_text_color=”#216477″ toggle_level=”h3″ toggle_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” toggle_font_size=”16px” toggle_line_height=”1.8em” closed_toggle_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” body_font=”Open Sans||||||||” body_text_color=”#ffffff” body_font_size=”15px” body_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ toggle_font_size_tablet=”16px” toggle_font_size_phone=”12px” toggle_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”14px” body_font_size_phone=”” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_all=”5px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” border_width_all_tablet=”” border_width_all_phone=”0px” border_width_all_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Symptoms” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ hover_enabled=”0″ toggle_level=”h3″ toggle_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||”]<\/p>\n
Glaucoma in its early stages has no symptoms, but in the advanced stages damage occurs in the peripheral vision and then in the central area of vision. As a rule, glaucoma develops quietly and asymptomatically. Its most common symptoms are blurred vision, a feeling of heaviness in the eye and the frontal area. There are several factors:<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Forms of Glaucoma” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ hover_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n
There are several forms of glaucoma. The most common forms are chronic or simple glaucoma, acute, secondary, low-pressure glaucoma and congenital.<\/p>\n
Simple or chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common form. About 90% of glaucoma patients suffer from this form. Most people who have open-angle glaucoma feel well and have satisfactory vision. There are usually no early symptoms. It develops slowly and often goes unnoticed for months or even years, causing a gradual deterioration of vision. Thus, if open-angle glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated in time, it can lead to a significant loss of vision, while sometimes it is only noticed after it has already caused irreparable damage. Importantly, this form of glaucoma responds positively to treatment that is usually continued for life to continuously regulate eye pressure.<\/p>\n
Acute or angle-closure glaucoma is a less common type of glaucoma. It differs significantly from chronic open-angle glaucoma in that the pressure in the eye suddenly rises very quickly. The symptoms of acute glaucoma – severe headache, rainbow around the lights at night, flashes – require immediate medical treatment because a sudden increase in intraocular pressure can lead to serious immediate damage to vision. The treatment of angle-closure glaucoma or acute glaucoma usually consists of microsurgery or Laser treatment \u2013 measures usually very successful and long-lasting.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, even if angle-closure glaucoma has been successfully treated, regular check-ups are necessary since it is possible to develop chronic glaucoma after a while.<\/p>\n
Secondary glaucoma can occur as a result of eye injury, inflammation, or tumor, and in advanced cases of cataracts or diabetes. Glaucoma of this type can be mild or severe. Treatment methods depend on whether it is acute or chronic, and doctors try to treat the primary cause that led to this type of glaucoma.<\/p>\n
Low pressure glaucoma is a very rare type of glaucoma. The eye’s optic nerve is damaged even if the intraocular pressure is low.<\/p>\n
In congenital glaucoma, children who are born with the problem show symptoms such as blurred eyes, photosensitivity and tearing. The correct treatment at these ages is surgery since the side effects of drugs in children are unknown. Surgery is usually safe and effective.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Diagnosis” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ hover_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n
Usually people think that if their eye pressure is high they will develop glaucoma. But this is not always true. High intraocular pressure increases the chances of glaucoma, but it does not mean that anyone with high pressure also has glaucoma. Whether or not someone has glaucoma depends on the level of pressure their optic nerve can tolerate without damage. This level is different for everyone. Although normal intraocular pressure ranges between 12-21 mmHg, there are some who develop glaucoma even if their pressure is within this range. For these very reasons, an ophthalmological examination by a qualified ophthalmologist is needed. In order for the ophthalmologist to diagnose Glaucoma, he will subject you to the following tests:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tonometry<\/p>\n
The tonometry is done in order to measure the intraocular pressure. This routine test determines the pressure of the aqueous fluid inside the eye.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Fundoscopy<\/p>\n
If the doctor deems it necessary, he will do a fundoscopy. Drops will be put into your eye to dilate the pupil. He will then hold a special instrument \u2013 the ophthalmoscope \u2013 close to your eye. The ophthalmoscope, which will illuminate and magnify the inside of the eye, will help the doctor look through the pupil and investigate the morphology of the optic nerve. A nerve that appears “white” or “hollow” or does not have the healthy pink color is an indication of glaucoma. If the intraocular pressure is not within the normal range or the optic nerve shows unusual characteristics, the Laserlens ophthalmologist will suggest you to have two special tests for glaucoma: visual fields, optic papilla tomography (HRT) and gonioscopy.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Goniscopy<\/p>\n
With gonioscopy the ophthalmologist will check whether the angle where the iris meets the cornea is “closed” or “open”. This helps the doctor identify whether the glaucoma is chronic or acute. During this examination, anesthetic drops are used and a lens is applied to your eye. This lens allows the doctor to see inside the eye and detect whether the angle between the iris and the cornea is closed or narrow or wide and open. Also with this examination he can observe other causes of glaucoma<\/p>\n
\u2022 Visual field<\/p>\n
Visual fields is a special test that records the entire field of vision. Changes due to glaucoma appear in the field of vision and highlight the extent of the problem.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tomography of the optic papillae<\/p>\n
Optic papilla tomography is a non-invasive method of recording the morphology of the optic papilla. It is necessary for the early diagnosis of glaucoma in patients who do not present changes in the visual fields. With the topography of the optic papillae, patients are identified whose anatomical construction of the optic nerve may lead to the development of glaucoma. It is a reliable method for recording, monitoring and comparative study in the diagnosis and long-term evolution of glaucoma. They grow low.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Treatment” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ hover_enabled=”0″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n
Glaucoma treatment is aimed at keeping the damage from getting worse and stabilizing it, as any damage that is already there is irreversible. The first common treatment of glaucoma is by administering eye drops where we can have one type or a combination of more. In special cases, pills may be administered for a short period of time to reduce the pressure. The drops may cause a tingling sensation, burning or even redness of the eye. The treatment is for life.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Laser treatment<\/p>\n
When medication is no longer effective, the intermediate treatment, before resorting to surgery, is the treatment of glaucoma with Laser. The main methods are:<\/p>\n
1. Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT): We apply a thermal laser to the filtering filter, in the angle of the anterior chamber, in order to open it. This method is applicable to open-angle glaucoma. It is a painless method and does not require surgery. However, it does not always have the expected result and when it does, it usually does not last more than 3 to 5 years.<\/p>\n
2. Selective trabeculoplasty (SLT): We apply a special non-thermal laser to the filter in the angle of the anterior chamber, which results in the remodeling and opening of the filter. It is a relatively new method, safe, painless and can be repeated many times, but with reduced effectiveness from the 3rd session onwards. The duration and magnitude of the effect is quite satisfactory, but may vary from person to person.<\/p>\n
3. Peripheral iridotomy: We open with a laser (usually Yaglaser) small holes in the periphery of the iris, with the aim of direct communication between the anterior chamber and the posterior chamber. It is applied to narrow or closed-angle glaucoma, with very good results. Like the previous method, it is painless and does not require surgery.<\/p>\n
4. Cyclophotocoagulation: It is a modern application of an older method, cyclocryocoagulation. With this method, we apply a special laser, externally or internally to the eye, in the area of the ciliary body behind the iris, in order to reduce the production of aqueous humor. It is used in glaucomas that are difficult to treat with other therapeutic methods or as a method before resorting to surgery. It is done in the operating room under local anesthesia and may require more than one session.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Treatment with surgery<\/p>\n
Surgery is performed if the two previous treatments fail, or earlier if the doctor deems it appropriate. We usually intervene when the eye pressure is not regulated with drugs and lasers and when despite the treatment there is a worsening of the clinical condition. With surgery, better drainage of the eye fluid is achieved through an opening that is created.<\/p>\n
The opening that is created achieves a better drainage of the liquid and a reduction of the intraocular pressure. The operation (trabeculectomy) as well as the Ahmed valve insertion operation is not intended to reverse the damage caused by glaucoma. These are irreversible. It is also not intended to provide better vision, but it significantly helps to prevent further damage to the visual field and reduces intraocular pressure to levels that are considered low.<\/p>\n
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