2023-06-21 18:06:36
In Mexico, four percent of the population suffers from glaucoma and half are unaware that they have this disease. This is due to the absence of symptoms. This condition is one of the main causes of vision loss in the world and, in addition, it ranks first in irreversible blindness. It is characterized by increased pressure in the eyeball that causes progressive damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision.
Cataracts and some medications are risk factors for glaucoma
Risk factors include increased intraocular pressure, use of medications (such as cortisone or steroids), blow to the eye, cataracts, intraocular inflammation and ocular malformations from birth or that present in different stages of life.
This eye disease can be open angle, which is the one that mainly affects men and is the most common form. For its part, angle closure occurs when the drainage angle in the eye is completely blocked, which causes a rapid increase in eye pressure, called an acute attack.
To confirm its presence, visual acuity and intraocular pressure are measured.
When confirming the type of glaucoma, what is done is to measure visual acuity and intraocular pressure. Likewise, the pupil is dictated in order to verify the optic nerve. People with suspicion of the disease undergo cabinet studies and optical coherence tomography to verify the shape and nerve fibers of the eye.
Regarding treatment, it is based on topical medications that lower intraocular pressure and reduce the risk of decreased visual field. People with severe disease who are candidates also undergo minimally invasive laser surgery. This is a microscopic procedure that could not be performed until 15 years ago.
From the age of 35, an annual ophthalmological check-up is recommended, especially among those who have myopia or direct relatives with glaucoma. This allows timely detection, since the damage is permanent and irreversible. However, it can be stopped with medication and laser surgery.
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