Eye pressure can cause blindness
Ophthalmology Specialist Dr. Nükhet Özsoy made a statement due to the 12 March World Glaucoma Day. Stating that glaucoma is a condition that can be experienced in all age groups, from newborn babies to older people, Dr. Özsoy said, “Because intraocular pressure causes a slow and progressive damage to the optic nerve, glaucoma is a disease that usually develops without pain and without symptoms.”
Stating that there are different types of the disease depending on the causes and their incidence is related to age, Ophthalmology Specialist Dr. Özsoy stated that the patient came to the doctor when it was difficult for the patient to notice and the treatment was late. Stating that the most common type of glaucoma is open angle glaucoma, Dr. Özsoy stated that glaucoma did not show any symptoms in the initial phase due to the slow increase in intraocular pressure, and it was noticed late because vision loss developed slowly.
In the narrow-angle glaucoma type seen among 10 percent of the patients, Dr. Özsoy said, “Patients may experience complaints such as blurred vision, severe eye pain, headache, rainbow halos around the light, nausea and vomiting.”
Emphasizing that age, family history of glaucoma, myopia or hyperopia, previous eye trauma, thin cornea (glassy layer of the eye) thickness, diabetes, migraine, and circulation problems, these factors should be evaluated and treatment should be planned. Özsoy underlined that these patients have a higher than normal risk of developing glaucoma in the future, and that regular examination is necessary for early detection of damage to the optic nerve.
Stating that in the less common type of glaucoma, intraocular pressure can suddenly rise to high values, it can manifest itself with symptoms such as pain around the eyes, redness in the eye, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and the appearance of halos around the lights. Özsoy stated that in the very advanced stages of the disease, severe narrowing of the visual field and cases in which it is understood that one eye cannot even see the light in the last stage is the stage that occurs in the last stage and the treatment of the loss is no longer possible.
Saying that having regular eye exams is the best way to diagnose glaucoma, Dr. Nükhet Özsoy gave information about the tests that must be done in the examination:
“Tonometry test; measurement of intraocular pressure. ophthalmoscopy; It is a method used to examine the inside of the eye, especially the posterior part and optic nerves. Perimetry test; Also called visual field test. With this test, the patient’s visual field is mapped. gonioscopy; It is a method that allows the region where the iris and cornea meet to be seen. It is made with a tool that contains mirrors and lenses placed at certain angles.”
Stating that these tests are not necessary for everyone, Dr. Özsoy stated that in some cases, glaucoma can be controlled with eye drops and success can be achieved with drug therapy.
