Blasser und exkavierter glaukomatöser Sehnerv
What is a glaucoma?
Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve due to loss of nerve fibers. The term glaucoma covers a variety of diseases in the eye, in which the optic nerve is damaged. A glaucoma is mainly caused by increased eye pressure. This causes the optic nerve fibers to die at the position where the optic nerve leaves the eye. A special form of glaucoma, which results in damage to the optic nerve despite an increased intraocular pressure, is called normal tension glaucoma. On the other hand, there may be too much eye pressure without causing damage. This is called ocular hypertension. The three main types of glaucoma are primary open-angle glaucoma, narrow-angle glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma.
What symptoms do you notice?
The patient does not notice impaired vision for a long time. Only in advanced glaucoma there are subjective complaints. For those, the Green Star means dull vision and visual field defects – in the late stages also in central vision. Although therapy can not repair the damage caused by glaucoma, early diagnosis, regular monitoring, and appropriate therapy can prevent blindness and maintain viable eyesight.
Early detection and regular checks
Regular check-ups at the ophthalmologist ensure that glaucoma is detected early. An eye pressure measurement, a measurement or observation of the optic nerve head and a visual field examination are performed.
Therapy
The majority of patients receive life-long hypotensive eye drops. If drop therapy is not sufficient to reduce eye pressure, it is po
ssible to lower the pressure in the eye by means of laser or surgical intervention. An increased risk of glaucoma is associated with:
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high blood pressure
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ethnicity
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Family members with known glaucoma
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visual impairments
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diabetes
