Do Not Miss Your Routine Eye Exam for Glaucoma Diagnosis

Glaucoma, which can be diagnosed during a routine eye exam due to its lack of symptoms in the early stages, is quite common. If not diagnosed and treated early, glaucoma can lead to vision loss. It is also known as "eye pressure" and colloquially as "black water disease." What is Eye Pressure? Eye pressure occurs when the pressure inside the eye increases, leading to irreversible damage. The disease progresses without showing symptoms initially and is difficult to detect as it first affects only one eye's function. Every year on March 12th, World Glaucoma Day, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of eye pressure, and therefore the significance of routine eye exams, is highlighted.

Although eye pressure can be seen in all age groups, it is particularly common in individuals over the age of 40. Patients over 40 should definitely have an eye examination by an eye specialist at least once a year.

What Are the Symptoms of Eye Pressure?

Eye pressure, which shows no significant symptoms in its early stages and is often detected during routine eye exams, presents the following symptoms in its advanced stages: 

Pain around the head and eyes
Temporary blurred vision
Pain when touching the eye
Painful red eyes

What Causes Eye Pressure?

The possible causes and risk groups for eye pressure include:
Being over 40 years old
Diabetes
Myopia
Family history of eye pressure
Prolonged cortisone treatments
Eye injuries

How is Eye Pressure Diagnosed?

Advanced diagnostic devices are used to monitor eye pressure and determine whether any damage has occurred to the optic nerve. Glaucoma specialists interpret the data from these devices to plan the patient's treatment process. During this planning process, computerized visual field tests that show the extent of vision loss due to optic nerve damage, OCT (optical coherence tomography) that analyzes the optic nerve and nerve fiber, and pachymeters that measure corneal thickness to determine how close the measured value is to the actual pressure may be used.

How is Eye Pressure Monitored?

Since eye pressure is a progressive disease, monitoring it is very important. The rate of progression can be determined after a while by repeated computerized visual field and OCT tests. Treatment of eye pressure without determining the rate of progression is unfortunately incomplete. A detailed eye examination is essential for early diagnosis. With the help of systems equipped with advanced technological devices, early diagnosis and treatment of eye pressure can be performed.

How is Eye Pressure Treated?

Eye pressure treatment is carried out in three ways:

Medication: There are many drops used in the medical treatment of eye pressure. These drops lower intraocular pressure through different mechanisms. They are used regularly at certain intervals and for life. If the initial treatment is not successful, a second drop is added. If eye pressure still does not decrease, a third drop may be added, or other treatment methods may be applied based on the doctor's opinion.

Laser Treatment: Laser treatment may be applied to patients who do not respond adequately to medication in the treatment of eye pressure.

Surgical Treatment: During surgery, a small channel is opened in the white part of the eye. This channel, which is too small to be visible from the outside, facilitates the drainage of the high-pressure fluid inside the eye. With developing technology and new methods, surgeries can be performed without the need for any stitches, using a tube to drain the fluid from the inside of the eye in more advanced cases.