Glaucoma (Eye Pressure)

Eye hypertensionor also known asglaucoma is also known as "blackwater disease" among the public. It is an eye disease that results in damage to the optic nerves due to increased intraocular pressure.

Ocular hypertension is an insidious disease, its symptoms progress slowly and there is a continuous decrease in vision if it is not intervened. Although it may cause permanent vision loss during this process, if not intervened, the end of the process may result in permanent blindness. Therefore, it is of critical importance to control glaucoma with early diagnosis and treatment.

What is Eye Pressure (Glaucoma)?

Ocular hypertension is an eye disease that occurs due to the abnormal increase in intraocular pressure and damage to the optic nerves, as a result of the inability to expel the aqueous fluid that feeds the lens of the eye due to the blockage of the trabecular network.

In glaucomadisease, the fluid accumulation inside the eye is high enough to damage vision. Over time, with fluid accumulation, the pressure on the optic nerves indirectly increases. This situation increases the damage to the optic nerve, which is responsible for vision. As eye pressure progresses, the person's visual field gradually narrows.

There is no definite threshold for the said pressure increase. Although this pressure is higher in one person than another, damage to the optic nerves may not have started and glaucoma may not have started to appear.

Due to the structure of the optic nerves, these nerves must renew themselves or be repaired in a way that can be restored by surgical intervention. It is not possible. The first stage of glaucoma begins as soon as optic nerve damage occurs. Therefore, early diagnosis of the disease becomes important for treatment.

What are the Causes and Risk Factors of Glaucoma?

Eye tension (glaucoma) basically occurs due to a single cause, but there may be some differences that trigger its formation.

The eye fluid produced to protect and nourish the visual lens. It is called aqueous humor fluid. Glaucoma begins with the blockage of the channels (trabecular network) responsible for the simultaneous discharge of this fluid.

Pressure increases with the insufficient excretion and accumulation of aqueous humor fluid. This pressure puts pressure on the optic nerves responsible for vision, causing a gradual decrease in the patient's vision. Accordingly, as this pressure increases over time, nerve fiber damage also increases.

If this pressure cannot be balanced and this pressure continues severely, blindness occurs. Although the intraocular pressure is at normal levels in some patients, the optic nerve is damaged due to abnormal blood flow in the optic nerve.

Permanent vision loss occurs as these nerves die over time. When treatment is delayed, there is a risk of permanent blindness.

In addition, fluid accumulation in the eye alone is not sufficient to diagnose glaucoma. Vision loss should occur as a result of the pressure on the optic nerves that accompanies this condition.

• People with high intraocular pressure in glaucoma have a high risk of disease. However, this does not necessarily mean that it will result in glaucoma.
• Thin corneal thickness is a risk factor for the disease.
• Although glaucoma is a problem that can be seen at any age, it is more common in people over the age of 40. is encountered. The risk increases much more over the age of 60. At the same time, the risk of disease increases with age.
• It should be taken into account that the disease may also occur due to hereditary reasons.
• Glaucoma may also be related to genetics. People with a family history of the disease are more likely to develop the disease. These people should have regular check-ups once a year.
• The risk of the disease is higher in people with diabetes, hypothyroidism (goiter), heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Smoking. It is a risk factor for many retinal diseases, as well as glaucoma.
• Long-term cortisone treatments constitute a risk factor.
• Advanced eye injuries may increase the risk of glaucoma.
• High-degree hyperopia and myopia increase the risk of developing eye hypertension.

How to Prevent the Risk of Glaucoma?

• Regular eye exams are critical to detecting problems before significant damage from eye pressure occurs. It is critical for the early diagnosis of glaucoma to have a regular examination every 5 years before the age of 40, every 3 years after the age of 40, and every year after the age of 60.
• Be informed about your family's health history: Eye pressure. Genetic factors play an important role in the risk of contracting the disease. It is important to know family history for disease risk and early detection. It is important for people with a family history of this disease to have regular examinations.
• Regular exercise and an active lifestyle are important to reduce the risk of disease. Not having bad habits and living a healthy life are effective in reducing the risk of disease.
• Serious eye injuries can cause glaucoma. Therefore, be careful.
• If any eye drops have been prescribed to you by your doctor, regular use of them can help prevent the emergence of the disease.

What are the Symptoms of Eye Pressure (Glaucoma)?

Ocular hypertension symptoms While the disease does not show itself in the early stages, different symptoms may be seen in different patients. The common symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• Headache accompanied by pain in the eyelid and its surroundings, which occurs due to the change in the level of the aqueous humorous fluid during the day,
• Headache in the eye. feeling of tension and stiffness, pain when pressing on it,
• Pain in the forehead area,
• Sudden or rapid closing of the angle of vision,
• Nausea,
• Patients report symptoms of glaucoma such as temporary blurred vision and seeing halos around lights at night.

In addition, symptoms such as sensitivity to light and watery eyes are observed in the types seen in childhood. .

When Should You See a Doctor?

A problem such as blurred vision at certain times may accompany the patient's complaints, along with the complaint of severe headache, which usually manifests itself regularly in the morning hours.

In addition, people with a family history of glaucoma should be more sensitive to certain symptoms. It is beneficial for them to go for a regular check-up once a year. Finally, people who experience acute vision loss along with severe headache and eye pain should immediately visit they should consult an ophthalmologist.

“Eye pressure How much should it be??” Many people are wondering the question. The answer to this question may vary from person to person. Eye pressure takes a value according to the pressure created by the amount of fluid in the eye. When the limits of these values are exceeded, various negative symptoms may occur in the person's vision. For this reason, it is important to measure eye pressure at regular intervals by an ophthalmologist.

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What are the Types of Glaucoma?

There are different types of glaucoma. Each type may show different symptoms and the treatment options for the disease may vary. Types of glaucoma are:

• Open angle glaucoma
• Angle closure glaucoma,
• Normal pressure,
• Injury Developing afterwards,
• Type of glaucoma seen in children,
• Exfoliation syndrome,
• Congenital glaucoma,
• Ocular hypertension,
< There are different types: li>Pigmentary,
• Novascular glaucoma

How is Glaucoma Diagnosed?

Ocular hypertension is diagnosed through comprehensive and various examinations. First, the patient's glaucoma is measured with a tonometry device. Afterwards, a fundus examination is performed to determine whether there is any damage to the optic nerves.

After this point, multiple tests for glaucoma can be applied if deemed necessary by the relevant physician. In acute glaucoma crises, diagnosis is much easier as the patient shows more obvious symptoms. In such cases, urgent intervention is given to the patient.

Because the later the intervention, the greater the patient's visual field loss. The methods and tests applied to diagnose the disease are as follows:

• Measurement of intraocular pressure and examination of the drainage angle,
• Optic nerve examination (ophthalomoscopy),
< Diagnosis of glaucoma disease by applying some or all of the tests such as computerized visual field test,
• OCT,
• HRT

How is Eye Pressure Treated?

The damage to our vision due to the damage to the optic nerves is irreversible, but it can be controlled. . Among the glaucoma treatment methods, if the disease cannot be kept under control in drug treatments, other methods can also be applied.

Eye tension treatment methods, eye drops and oral medications as support, laser. Treatments and surgical interventions are applied to prevent and control the progression of the disease. While only one of the mentioned treatments can be applied, in some patients, complicated treatments may be required depending on the condition of the disease.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)

SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) application is a very fast and practical method for the treatment of glaucoma. It is a method that many patients confuse with glaucoma surgery. However, it is performed in an office environment where surgical intervention is not possible.

The treatment begins by numbing the eye using anesthetic drops. Afterwards, laser beams are applied to the trabecular network, which allows the outflow of aqueous fluid, for 40-60 seconds. In this way, the narrowed and clogged channels through which the aqueous fluid is discharged from the inside of the eye to the outside are widened. While SLT can show its effect after 1-3 months at the latest. In the majority of glaucoma patients, intraocular pressure decreases by 25-30%.

Laser treatment takes effect within 1-5 years and must be repeated after this period. SLT application can be applied to patients who cannot get results from drug treatment or who complain about the side effects of the drugs they use.

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