Glaucoma: Meanings
glaucoma is a chronic disease caused by the progressive destruction of the fibres of the optic nerve under the influence of various factors, the most common of which is the abnormal rise in intraocular pressure.
Types of glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma is chronic glaucoma and is the most common glaucoma. It is opposed to narrow-angle glaucoma which is brutal and a major cause of blindness. The increase in intraocular pressure is caused by a decrease in the flow of fluid to the eye called aqueous humour. It progresses gradually and can be suspected in the face of a reduction in the visual field and the discovery of a pale papilla. Several examinations are performed by an ophthalmologist such as a fundus, an intraocular pressure measurement and a gonioscopy. It is possible to treat this glaucoma if it is detected early enough.
Narrow-angle glaucoma
Iridocorneal angle-closure glaucoma is an eye emergency. Closing the angle prevents the outflow of aqueous humour and causes a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. It is rarer than open-angle glaucoma. It manifests as sharp and continuous eye pain, a dilated pupil, a decrease in the visual field and nausea. This is a medical emergency that requires surgery or laser intervention. Before the procedure, the doctor injects the patient with acetazolamide intravenously to reduce the pressure inside the eye. Without treatment, the development is rapid and results in permanent loss of sight.
Chronic glaucoma
Chronic glaucoma is another name for open-angle glaucoma. The optic nerve, transmitting images from the eye to the brain, is gradually destroyed due to excess pressure in the eye. This glaucoma usually affects both eyes and progresses over several years to end in total loss of vision or blindness, in the absence of proper treatment.
Congenital glaucoma
Congenital glaucoma is a rare form of glaucoma that is characterized by high intraocular pressure from birth or during the first weeks of life. The child tears because the aqueous humour contained in the eyes evacuates badly. In most cases, the condition is bilateral and boys are more affected than girls. It is often linked to a genetic defect. Hypotensive eye drops may be sufficient. Eye surgery is necessary to treat the most serious cases.
Neovascular glaucoma
Neovascular glaucoma is secondary glaucoma, the occurrence of which is often associated with another pathology of the retina such as vascular occlusion, eye trauma or diabetes. It is characterized by the appearance of new vessels in the iris which extend towards the iridocorneal angle, which increases the intraocular pressure. Treatment depends on the cause and stage at which glaucoma was diagnosed. It can be a drug, surgery, or laser.
Pigmentary glaucoma
Pigmentary glaucoma is a rare form of glaucoma. In this case, the iris rubs against the pigment layer of the eye. This friction leads to the detachment of fragments of pigments, which clog the trabecular meshwork and increase the intraocular pressure. Pigmentary glaucoma mainly affects young people with myopia. Treatment depends on when it is taken over. At the stage of pigment dispersion, a pigment iridotomy will be considered. Surgery will be indicated in the most serious cases
Causes and risk factors
The number one risk factor for glaucoma is ageing. Other risk factors are a family history of glaucoma, African (open-angle glaucoma) or Asian (narrow-angle glaucoma) ancestry.
It is important to know the risk factors and see an ophthalmologist if you are at risk. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment help decrease the overall incidence of glaucoma.
SIGNS OF GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma remains completely asymptomatic for most of its course. No pain, redness or loss of visual acuity appears. Only the systematic control of the intraocular pressure during an ophthalmologic examination can alert and lead to carrying out the examinations which will make it possible to make the diagnosis between simple ocular hypertonia and glaucoma.
The visual field makes it possible to highlight scotomas (gaps, "holes" of which the subject is not aware because they are compensated by the field of the other eye). The ophthalmoscopic examination makes it possible to observe the optic papilla (head of the optic nerve), the excavation of which testifies to the progressive destruction of the fibres.
Treatment of glaucoma
Too much pressure from the aqueous humour gradually destroys the optic nerve, starting at the periphery. The treatment of glaucoma consists either in reducing the production of this aqueous humour (by drugs or ultrasound) or in increasing its elimination by drugs or by carrying out a trabeculoplasty (widening of the iridocorneal angle) by laser or surgery. Medical treatment must be continued "for life" to stabilize the disease. There are different types of eye drops aimed at lowering intraocular pressure either by reducing the secretion of aqueous humour like beta-blockers or by increasing its elimination like prostaglandin analogues. If these eye drops do not stabilize the intraocular pressure or if they cause too many side effects, such as allergic manifestations, reinforced laser treatment, carried out on an outpatient basis, may be proposed. If eye drops and lasers fail, surgery may be advised.
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