Glaucoma

July 11, 2011

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Glaucoma   - Severe chronic eye disease characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) . In this optic nerve is affected, reduced vision and possible onset of blindness. The optic nerve is completely killed, and blindness is irreversible.

Unfortunately, glaucoma is quite common, it affects people over the age of forty years. According to WHO, the world's number of glaucoma patients reaches 100 million. People. In the younger age glaucoma occurs much less frequently.

Intraocular pressure increases for two main reasons: the formation of intraocular fluid in excessive amounts and infringement removal of intraocular fluid drainage system of the eye. Latency intraocular fluid causes an increase in IOP and high IOP results in the death of optic nerve and blindness. However, from what there is excessive formation of fluid is unknown. It is believed that a huge role in causing glaucoma hereditary factors play. If the family has relatives with a history of glaucoma, you should at least once a year, be inspected by an ophthalmologist.

Neglect of treatment for glaucoma will inevitably lead to blindness.

There are several types of glaucoma:

Congenital glaucoma Which can be caused by genetic factors or diseases and injuries of the fetus during embryonic development or delivery. Congenital glaucoma is evident in the first weeks of life. The disease is quite rare - 10-20 thousand. Newborn accounts for only 1 case of glaucoma.

The cause of the disease often appears hereditary autosomal recessive type. At the same anomalies eyeball. The reasons may be effects on the fetus of diseases such as measles rubella . flu . toxoplasmosis . parotitis . hypoxia .

Junior or juvenile glaucoma . It develops in children after three years, and young people under 35 years of age. The causes of the disease are congenital changes in the iris.

Secondary glaucoma - It is a consequence of other ocular or general disease that affects eye structures responsible for circulation and outflow of intraocular fluid from the eye. The reasons may also be mechanical damage to the eye.

Primary glaucoma adults   - The most common form of chronic glaucoma, which is associated with age-related eye changes. The disease is divided into four main clinical forms: open-angle glaucoma . Mixed glaucoma . Closed-angle glaucoma   and glaucoma with normal IOP .

Symptoms of glaucoma

The symptoms of glaucoma are directly dependent on the form and stage of disease. It is insidious in that at the initial stage of the disease, 80% of patients do not experience any discomfort. What is cause for concern:

• Symptoms of glaucoma or primary type, as it is called, primary glaucoma That is, a form of closed or open-angle glaucoma, the coal is iridescent circles . When looking at a light bulb or a candle flame, the patient seems to be that the fire is surrounded by a rainbow halo.
• The emergence of "net" before his eyes, pressing pain in the eyes, sometimes smack in the head.
• Symptoms also include a periodic "blurring" of the appearance of "veil", most often in the morning, reduced visual acuity in the twilight, and then in normal lighting conditions, narrowing the angle of view.
• On examination, the expert observed swelling of the cornea and iris.
• Pressure measurement shows high values, the patient nauseated.

Congenital glaucoma in children manifested by stretching the cornea, which is elastic in neonates and receives normal size after the first week of life. When glaucoma eyes seem more expressive and more the norm. This leads to a stretching and thinning of the retina and its subsequent detachment from discontinuities.

Observed myopia   or myopic astigmatism , A slight increase in intraocular pressure in the early stages of the disease. Corneal swelling occurs, which leads to vision loss, and further it is associated with atrophy of the optic nerve and the deformation of the fundus.

Glaucoma Treatment

The main objective in the treatment of glaucoma is to preserve visual function with minimal side effects of the applied therapy and maintain a normal quality of life of the patient. The key to successful treatment is a proper understanding by the patient of a serious disease prognosis and the need for adequate treatment.

Treat glaucoma conservative   (medication) method laser   and surgery   means. Medication, in turn, is carried out in three directions: ophthalmo-hypertensive therapy - measures to reduce intraocular pressure. Measures aimed at improving the blood supply to the inner eye membranes and intraocular portion of the optic nerve. Normalization of metabolism (metabolism) in ocular tissues for influencing the degenerative processes that are characteristic of glaucoma. Relieves the symptoms of glaucoma and its complications.

Previously, for medical treatment of glaucoma used pilocarpine, a drug, narrowing the pupil of the eye. He is now replaced by new drugs: Betoptik . Betadine . timolol . trusopt . ksalatan   and several others. The newest drugs can carry more directly impact on glaucoma: reduce the production of fluid and improve its flow.

Laser treatment has been made possible not so long ago, after the creation of modern ophthalmic laser systems with a set of parameters that affect the structure of the eyeball. It is possible to develop and apply the various techniques of laser treatment of glaucoma.

Laser treatment of glaucoma has several advantages: firstly, the low traumatic procedures, secondly, the complete absence of serious complications which may arise during the postoperative period, and thirdly, the possibility of treatment in outpatient conditions that substantially affect the economy, the possibility of if necessary, repeated laser procedures, with a significant reduction of the hypotensive effect in the postoperative period.

Laser treatment of glaucoma   carried out by the following methods:

• laser trabeculoplasty;
• Laser iridectomy;
• Laser gonioplastika;
• Laser trabekulopunktura (activation outflow);
• Laser destsemetogoniopunktura;
• Laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (contact and contactless).

Surgical treatment is the creation of an alternative system of outflow of intraocular fluid, after which there is a normalization of intraocular pressure without the use of drugs.

Different forms and types of glaucoma require a distinction surgical surgery and decide each time individually. The exception is congenital glaucoma in children, this form of the disease can be cured only by surgery.

Prevention of glaucoma

Glaucoma is perhaps the most common cause of blindness and therefore prevention of progression of the disease is of great socio-economic importance both for the individual and for society as a whole.

The disease largely depends on the way of life of the sick, treatment of glaucoma can not be successful without a correct lifestyle. Avoid physical and nervous overload, especially in older age. The permissible limit for raising the gravity should not exceed 10 kg. It should not, also read in low light conditions and for a long period.

Of great importance and the diet, you must eat rationally, according to age. Preference should be given to vegetable dishes, fish, raw fruits and vegetables and limit the intake of animal fat and sugar. For the eyes is very harmful nicotine, therefore, better to give up smoking, the sooner the better.

The most effective in the prevention of glaucoma, is the systematic examination by a specialist ophthalmologist and control intraocular pressure, for people older than 40-45 years. See your doctor should be not less than once a year. Pay particular attention to the prevention of glaucoma should treat people who have relatives with glaucoma.

In the case when the first symptoms of glaucoma, you should immediately consult your doctor. If you find any form of glaucoma is required to be at the dispensary observation at the eye doctor. Remember, now medicine is not able to restore the lost as a result of the progression of glaucoma, vision.