Related articles: Glaucoma
Definition
Glaucoma is an ocular disease characterized by progressive damage to the optic nerve. This damage is due, in part, to an increase in internal pressure in the eye.
Walleye are mainly classified in open-angle glaucoma and narrow-angle glaucoma. The angle to which the classification refers is that formed by the junction between the iris and the cornea at the periphery of the anterior chamber. From this iridocorneal angle, most of the aqueous humor produced by the ciliary body from the eye emerges (mainly through the trabecular meshwork and the Schlemm canal). When there is an excessive production of aqueous humor or there is an obstacle that blocks its outflow (more frequent condition) there is an increase in intraocular pressure. This, which results from the excessive accumulation of fluid, damages the optic nerve, whose function is to transport visual signals to the brain.
Glaucomas can be primary (if the cause of origin is unknown) or secondary to another condition (eg diabetic retinopathy, ischemic occlusion, obstruction by neoplastic cells, etc.).
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Halo around the light
- anisocoria
- oxeye
- Night Blindness
- Conati
- Ocular pain
- Exophthalmos
- Fotofobia
- Eyelid swelling
- Tearing
- Headache
- Mydriasis
- Nausea
- Eyes reddened
- Elevated intraocular pressure
- Narrowing of the visual field
- Reduced vision
- scotomas
- Blurred vision
- He retched
Further indications
Glaucoma can arise and develop without the patient being aware of it. Although often "silent", the disease tends to produce characteristic alterations of the optic nerve and papilla (the initial part of the optic nerve which is located in the central area of the retina), in addition to causing a reduction in the visual field.
Glaucoma can be acute or chronic. Acute glaucoma manifests itself suddenly with intense ocular pain and conjunctival redness, reduced vision, vision of colored halos around lights, headache, nausea and vomiting. Chronic glaucoma, on the other hand, does not cause any particular symptoms, so the patient can realize the disease only in the terminal phase. If not treated properly, glaucoma can affect peripheral vision and cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve, which can also lead to blindness.
Glaucoma is diagnosed by ophthalmoscopy, examination of the visual field and measurement of intraocular pressure. The high pressure inside the eye is an important indicator in the evaluation of glaucoma, of which it is a risk factor. In affected patients, the intraocular pressure is generally higher than 21 mmHg, but this criterion is not indispensable for the diagnosis (in case of glaucoma it can be high but also included in the average values ie between 10 and 21mmHg). The diagnosis of the disease is confirmed by the presence of characteristic alterations of the optic nerve and of the visual field, in addition to the exclusion of other causes.
The treatment of glaucoma consists in the reduction of intraocular pressure. Three methods are available to control the flow and drainage of aqueous humor: drugs, lasers and incisional surgery.
