Glaucoma

Glaucoma is also known as cataracts. About one in ten people over 70 have glaucoma. But what exactly is it and how can it be treated?

Glaucoma is usually caused by increased pressure in the eyeball. This damages the optic nerve endings and causes loss of the outer field of vision.

The disease usually starts after the age of forty. Initially, no vision problems are observed because initially the loss is limited to the outer, out-of-focus part of the visual field. The central sharp visual field is preserved. Only after a long time will larger parts of the field of vision fail.

If no treatment is initiated, permanent blindness can occur. For the treatment, eye pressure-lowering drugs are used that either improve the drainage of eye fluid or reduce the production of fluid in the eyeball. If this has insufficient effect, treatment with laser may be indicated.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024