What is Glaucoma and how do you detect it?

Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to a narrowing of the visual field. The primary cause is increased intraocular pressure, but it can also occur even with normal eye pressure. It is a progressive condition, making early detection crucial. The diagnosis of glaucoma involves a combination of several tests.

The main diagnostic methods are as follows:

• Visual acuity test: Checks for any decrease in vision.
• Intraocular pressure measurement: Important test, as high eye pressure is a risk factor.
• Visual field test: Assesses the presence and progression of visual field defects.
• Fundus examination: Examines the optic nerve head for damage or structural changes.
• OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) test: Provides a detailed evaluation of the optic nerve structure and retinal layer thickness.
• Gonioscopy: Examines the shape and openness of the anterior chamber angle to determine the type of glaucoma (open-angle glaucoma or angle-closure glaucoma).

Glaucoma treatment

While a curing glaucoma is difficult, early treatment can help preserve vision. The treatment of glaucoma aims to slow its progression.
The main treatment methods are as follows:

Frequently Asked Questions About Glaucoma