Glaucoma (Open Angle)

Glaucoma (Open Angle) – General Information

Glaucoma is a disease which is characterized by an alteration of the optic nerve; this is usually caused by an extreme pressure in the interior of the eye. The damage of the nerve can be stopped with the appropriate treatment which is administrated in order to reduce the pressure inside the eye, but it can not be reversed. However, this term refers to the entire group of the diseases which are caused by intraocular pressure. A more specific term is used when the doctor determines the exact diagnosis. Glaucoma (Open Angle) is a type of glaucoma which appears as a result of multiple causes; it is a chronic disease which evolves quickly and finally leads to a complete damage of the optic nerve. In addition to the damage which characterized the optic nerve, this disease also cause abnormalities of the visual field, extreme intraocular pressure and open angles in the anterior chamber of the eye. Glaucoma (Open Angle) displays atrophy and cupping of the optic disc, which is the anterior part of the optic nerve. The most important thing which must be known about this disease is the fact that, in this case, the intraocular pressure is just a complication associated with the disorder, and not the disease itself. Glaucoma (Open Angle) is a major health problem nowadays and it affects more and more people all around the world. This happens especially because it progresses in a silent way, without causing any major complications or showing any extreme sings or symptoms. However, it slowly leads to complete blindness.

Glaucoma (Open Angle) – Symptoms

In the first stages of its evolution, Glaucoma (Open Angle) displays no signs or symptoms. Moreover, in most of the cases, the patients experience no visual complications or any problems. However, when the sufferers notice the appearance of vision loss, the optic nerve is already quite damaged and complete blindness may be permanent. In some cases, the patients experience some sudden signs, such as an emergent vision loss, caused by the blockage of the vein which is located in the central area of the retina; this complication is also known as retinal vein occlusion. Another important risk factor which was reported in most of the cases is elevated intraocular pressure which leads to hypertension and it finally result in vein occlusion. Glaucoma (Open Angle) is also characterized by other signs and symptoms, such as abdominal pain, venous thrombosis, optical disturbances, insomnia, anemia, disorientation or even depression. However, these complications are not necessary the result of this disease and they can characterize a large number of other disorders. Apart from the intraocular pressure, there are also some other risk factors which increase the possibility of suffering from this disease. The most common ones are the following: the patient’s medical history, the patient’s race and his habitat (for example, those who live in Africa are more likely to suffer from this disease), the patient’s age (people older than 40 years are usually affected by this disorder), previous visual complications or other cases of glaucoma and the possible appearance of myopia, which is also known as nearsightedness.

Glaucoma (Open Angle) - Treatment

In order to detect Glaucoma (Open Angle) in an early stage, each of us should perform periodical eye tests and specialized examinations. The period between the tests differ a lot considering a person’s age, race or his medical history. For example, people younger than 40 years and who have never experienced any visual complications, should perform an eye test at every 4-5 years. On the other hand, those who live in Africa or those who experienced other cases of Glaucoma or other complications, should perform a test once a year. In order to obtain all the information he needs, your doctor will probably ask you questions about your ocular history, the appearance of eye redness or eye pain, whether you suffer from other eye diseases or if you had experienced any eye surgeries. Other information he may require refer to your current medications or your family history of glaucoma. In some rare cases, Glaucoma (Open Angle) is the result of obesity, alcohol use, anxiety, stress or smoking.

The most common tests which are performed in order to obtain information about this disease and to settle a sure diagnosis include the following: a tonometry, an ultrasound test, a gonioscopy and other visual field examinations. However, your doctor will probably check your visual acuity at first; this test consists of showing the patient some letters and asking him to read them form across the room. After that, the doctor will examine the patient’s lens, cornea, anterior chamber and iris using a microscope. After the diagnosis is determined, your doctor will choose the best treatment, considering the patient’s form of the disease and its stage. The most common way of treating Glaucoma (Open Angle) consists in the administration of medicines; however, the patient has to follow the doctor’s indications exactly, as a wrong dosage can result in more severe complications, even permanent and complete vision loss.

The purpose of the drugs administration is to diminish the pressure inside the eye and to improve the signs and symptoms. In some cases, however, the doctor will choose not to administrate the sufferer any drugs, but to perform an attentive observation. But if the symptoms worsen quickly and the patient starts to experience signs such as blurred vision, pain or halos, the doctor will start the administration of medicines immediately. Another way of treating Glaucoma (Open Angle) is surgery; your doctor will choose this way of treating the disease if the administration of medicines leads to no improvement at all and the damage of the optic nerve worsens fast. Some patients can also choose a surgery if they can not afford to buy the medicines, it they can not remember to take their drugs if they suffer from other complications as well (such as arthritis) and they are not able to instill the medicines in the eye or if they experience severe side-effects. The most common surgeries which the doctor can choose from are trabeculectomy, implant surgery, trabeculoplasty or ciliary body ablation. However, the doctor has to explain the patient the risks and the benefits of each of these procedures which are used in order to treat Glaucoma (Open Angle).