Acıbadem Ataşehir Hospital Ophthalmology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Muhsin Eraslan gave important information about glaucoma. Specialist Assoc. Dr. Muhsin Eraslan said, “In a very high rate of 90 percent of patients diagnosed with glaucoma, no cause can be detected. It is known that the risk of glaucoma increases 7-10 times in people with a family history of eye pressure. In addition, factors such as being over the age of 40, cortisone use due to any disease and traumas to the eye, which disrupt the anatomical structure of the eye, intraocular stenosis, narrowing of the flow paths in the eye due to cataracts, previous eye surgeries and increased blood pressure increase the risk of glaucoma. spoke.
Ophthalmology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Muhsin Eraslan said, “Open-angle glaucoma does not show any symptoms until the last stage in a very high rate of 90 percent of patients. The narrowing of the visual field is the most typical symptom. However, since the visual field gradually narrows from the periphery to the center, it is only noticed by the patient in the late period. Eye pain, redness, blurred vision and sensitivity to light are among the most important findings in closed-angle glaucoma, which is more symptomatic.
Glaucoma develops as a result of the deterioration of the balance of the aqueous fluid produced in the eye and leaving the eye through small canals. Our eye contains the aqueous fluid that nourishes the eye structures and is routinely produced at 0.2 microliters per minute. This fluid is thrown out of the eye simultaneously under normal conditions. In glaucoma, obstruction occurs in the outflow tract of intraocular fluid due to congenital or subsequent causes. Therefore, the volume difference develops in the liquid produced and the liquid expelled. This picture results in an increase in the volume of fluid in the eye, resulting in an increase in the pressure inside the eye. The increased pressure in the eyes can also cause irreversible damage to the optic nerves.
Speaking as the diagnosis of glaucoma is made with a detailed eye examination, Ophthalmology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Muhsin Eraslan continued his words by saying:
“After checking the visual acuity and the anatomical condition of the eye, the eye pressure is measured with a tonometer device. Then, with the OCT test, it is determined whether the nerve structure in the eye has been lost or not. If glaucoma is diagnosed, it is classified as early-middle-advanced stage and the target eye pressure is determined. It is extremely important to create a separate target eye pressure for each patient in obtaining effective results from the treatment. Because routinely determining the same target number for each patient may lead to worsening in glaucoma findings. So, for example, we set the target blood pressure as 18 mmHg for an early stage patient, while targeting below 12 mmHg for an advanced stage glaucoma.”
Ophthalmology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Muhsin Eraslan, drawing attention to the fact that routine eye examinations should never be interrupted from the neonatal period for early diagnosis, explains this process as follows:
“Glaucoma can be seen not only in adults, but also in children. Therefore, routine eye examination should be done at the age of 1 to 6 years, as well as at the 1.5st and 3th months after birth. From the age of 3 until adulthood, examinations should be continued every year. Especially in people over the age of 40, testing for elevated intraocular pressure and visual field defects caused by glaucoma also provides a great advantage in terms of early diagnosis.”
Although glaucoma treatment cannot provide a full recovery, the damage to the optic nerve can be stopped, so the current condition of the eye can be preserved. The aim of the treatment is to keep the intraocular pressure below a certain level. Ophthalmology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Muhsin Eraslan stated that the intraocular drops applied in the first stage are effective in most of the patients, and said, “However, in some patients, sufficient reduction in intraocular pressure cannot be achieved with drop treatment and visual field loss increases. In such cases, laser intervention is the option, and in cases where this method is not effective, surgical methods are used.
Assoc. Dr. Muhsin Eraslan continues:
“Thanks to the evacuation of excess fluid with surgical interventions, the pressure inside the eye is reduced. Thus, the damaging effect of pressure on the optic nerve is eliminated. Although minimally invasive glaucoma surgery reduces intraocular pressure by 25-35%, this is not enough in some patients. In such cases, trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage implant surgery is applied. Today, very successful results are obtained from laser and surgical methods; patients can get rid of the eye drops they need to use for life. As long as it is not too late for treatment.”
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