Eye Blood Pressure Surgery (Glaucoma)

Glaucoma is the formation of high pressure in the eye as a result of the disruption of the balance between the production of intraocular fluid and excretion. Due to this high pressure, eye-harmful conditions occur in the eye. The high pressure in the eye prevents the supply of the eye and optic nerves by putting pressure on the optic nerve and the vessels that come through it and feed the retina. The pressure inside the eye increases the damage to the optic nerve.

Early diagnosis is very important in glaucoma, as there is no reversal after optic nerve damage and vision loss occur.

Early diagnosis is very important in glaucoma, as there is no reversal after optic nerve damage and vision loss occur. The disease may not always give any obvious symptoms. High intraocular pressure detected during normal eye examination may be the first symptom. If the pressure is not too high, the patient will not feel any discomfort.

There are two types of glaucoma, open-angle and closed-angle. The symptoms and treatment of these two types can vary. In closed-angle glaucoma, severe headache, eye pain, flushing, nausea, vomiting, and colored halos around the light can be seen in sudden attacks. However, when the eye pressure rises slowly, the patient may not feel anything. As the majority of patients have open-angle glaucoma, these also have gradually increased eye pressure.
Babies can also have congenital glaucoma. In infants, the findings are more uncertain.

Babies have watery eyes, sometimes reddening, and often a desire to hide their eyes from the light. In babies with this type of disease, the colored part of the eye is larger.
In some patients, although the eye pressure is normal, the retina and optic nerve may be damaged, just like in glaucoma. These cases are called low-tension glaucoma.
On the basis of glaucoma, there may be a disorder or insufficiency of the channels that drain the eye fluid, or it may be accompanied by other diseases.
How is it diagnosed? During the ophthalmologist’s examination, eye pressure is measured with a tonometer. In case of doubt, optic nerves are examined by performing an eye examination. If necessary, a visual field test is performed and it is checked whether there are visual field losses. With the more advanced device, OCT, that is, eye tomography, it is checked whether there is collapse and damage to the optic nerve.

In patients with moderate eye pressure, corneal thickness is measured. In those with thick corneas, the eye pressure may be slightly higher in proportion to the thickness.

We can list the risk factors in glaucoma as follows;

1- Those with a family history of eye pressure.
2- Advanced age.
3- High myopia.
4- High hypermetropia.
5- Those who use cortisone for a long time.
6- Eye injuries.
7- Some diseases; diabetes, high blood pressure, eye tumors, uveitis, intraocular hemorrhage, vasodilation on one side of the face, etc.
8- Structural abnormalities of the eye.

Will glaucoma get better?

Glaucoma is a disease that requires lifelong medication just like high blood pressure. With appropriate treatment, the progression of the disease can be stopped.

How is glaucoma treated?

Glaucoma is basically treated with eye drops. Today, there are very effective drugs available. But these drops should be chosen by the ophthalmologist. Some drops are not compatible with heart and respiratory diseases. Some drugs may also develop resistance in the body over time. Laser therapy can be applied if deemed necessary in open-angle glaucoma. In cases where these are not effective, surgical treatment is applied. The classical surgical treatment is trabeculectomy. But today, implant surgery is very advanced. Thus, both the duration of the surgery is shortened and the risk ratio is reduced.