Who should be tested for glaucoma?
Everyone aged over 35-40 should have an eye check by an optometrist at least every 5 years. A check every 2-3 years is advised if you are over 50. Eye checks are particularly important if you are in any of the 'at risk' groups listed above. The eye check will detect early signs of glaucoma before any significant vision loss occurs. The eye test normally includes:
What is the treatment for primary open angle glaucoma?
The aim of treatment is to lower the eye pressure. If the eye pressure is lowered, further damage to the optic nerve is likely to be prevented or delayed. The eye pressure to 'aim for' varies from case to case. It partly depends on how high the original pressure is. Your eye specialist will advise. Eye pressure can be lowered in various ways医学 全在.线提供www.med126.com
Eye drops
A variety of eye drop can lower eye pressure. They work either to:
Your eye specialist will advise. Some drops work better in some people than in others. Some drops are not suitable if you have asthma. Also, the possible side-effects vary between the different types of drops. So, if the first does not work so well, or does not suit, another may work fine. In some cases, two different types of drops are needed to keep the eye pressure low.
It is vital to use your drops exactly as instructed. If you are unsure that you are using your drops correctly, ask for advice from your doctor or practice nurse. An eye specialist will keep a regular check on your eye pressures, optic nerves, and field of vision.
Tablets
These are sometimes used. They work by reducing the amount of aqueous humour that you make.
Surgery
An operation called trabeculectomy is an option. This involves creating a channel between just inside of the eye to just under the conjunctiva. So, the aqueous humour can bypass the blocked trabecular meshwork. In effect, it is like forming a small 'safety-valve' for the aqueous humour.
Surgery may be advised if a trial of eye drops has failed to achieve target eye pressures, especially in younger people, or if you have very high eye pressures.
Like with all operations, there is a small risk of complications. Also the operation may have to be repeated in some cases. This is usually because some scar tissue forms at the site of the channel and prevents it working to drain the aqueous humour.
Laser treatments
A laser can 'burn' the trabecular meshwork which improves the drainage of the aqueous humour. Another technique is to destroy parts of the ciliary body which reduces the amount of aqueous humour that is made. However, the reduction in eye pressure after laser treatments often only lasts a short time. So, laser treatments are not commonly done.
