Glaucoma, which is a disease of the optic nerve, develops with the decrease of the cells that make up the optic nerve. It is one of the most important causes of blindness because it can cause permanent damage. Acıbadem Ankara Hospital Eye Health and Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. We got it from Uğur Emrah Altıparmak.
Acıbadem Ankara Hospital Ophthalmology Specialist Prof. said, “According to the World Vision Report” published by the World Health Organization for the first time in 2019, it is estimated that there are around 76 million glaucoma patients in the world. Dr. Uğur Emrah Altıparmak continued his words as follows: “Glaucoma is the 4th most common cause of loss in patients with preventable vision loss. These reasons are respectively; age-related nearsightedness, uncorrected visual defects (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) and cataracts. There are different types of glaucoma, and it can also be seen at different ages. The most common type in adults is called ‘Open Angle glaucoma’. Unfortunately, this type of glaucoma is the most silent and the last symptom. In these patients, stained vision occurs in the peripheral parts of the vision. If the disease progresses, patients first see like a tunnel, and eventually they may lose all their vision. In the less common type of ‘closed-angle glaucoma’, there are findings such as redness and pain in the eye and blurred vision. However, the diagnosis of glaucoma is mostly discovered by chance during the examination, and when it is noticed, there may be advanced damage to the optic nerve.
Glaucoma can also occur in infants.
Stating that the incidence of glaucoma increases after the age of 40, Prof. Dr. Uğur Emrah Altıparmak stated that after the age of 40, it is necessary to have a regular eye examination once a year. “Glaucoma can rarely be seen in newborn babies or children,” said Altıparmak, and continued: “Routine eye examinations are extremely important in order to detect and treat them early. Today, routine eye examinations are performed for all babies at the 3rd and 12th months, with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.
Early diagnosis is important
Emrah Altıparmak, who also talked about the treatment aspects of glaucoma, said, “It is aimed to stop the progression of the disease, that is, to prevent cell loss in the optic nerve. It is not possible to make up for lost nerve cells today. The backbone of treatment is eye drops that lower intraocular pressure. There are many eye drops available today that are effective with infrequent dosing. Surgical options are also applied in glaucoma types that cannot be treated with drops.
Pandemic delays glaucoma treatment
Underlining that glaucoma is a disease that can be successfully treated today, Altıparmak said, “However, as in many diseases, the disease can be brought under control earlier with early diagnosis and advanced vision loss can be prevented. Glaucoma patients who disrupt their eye checks due to the Covid-19 epidemic are a source of concern for us. I would like to emphasize that glaucoma patients should take the necessary hygiene measures and go to eye examinations regularly. He concluded his words by saying that the aphorism expressed in many chronic diseases: “Fear not being sick, but being late” is very realistic and valid for glaucoma as well.
Source: (BHA) – Beyaz News Agency
