{"id":88507,"date":"2022-04-25T12:10:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T09:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drcagatay.com\/glokom\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T10:58:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T07:58:40","slug":"glaucoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drcagatay.com\/en\/glaucoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Glaucoma"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span>Glaucoma (eye pressure)<\/span><\/strong> , which occurs when the pressure of the fluid inside the eye damages the optic nerves, is a chronic eye disease and one of the main causes of partial or complete loss of vision. A patient diagnosed with <\/span>glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> must be under the supervision of specialist physicians throughout his life and receive appropriate treatment in order to avoid blindness.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Glaucoma? What are the Symptoms of Eye Pressure?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The disease, which has entered the medical literature as <\/span>“glaucoma”<\/span><\/strong> (also called “eye pressure”), is an optic neuropathy, that is, a disease of the optic nerve. With its emergence, it damages the nerve cells (ganglion), which are components of the visual pathway. Nerve cells that begin to die also cause vision to deteriorate over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is difficult to recognize the disease in the early period when the person does not have any vision problems. Eye twitching, itching, etc. These conditions are not indicative of <\/span>glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> . In fact, when glaucoma first begins, it does not cause eye pain; it progresses insidiously asymptomatic, that is, without causing any complaints.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over time, the increase in the number of nerve cells affected by glaucoma begins to manifest itself as a deficiency in vision (dark spots), but the patient is still unaware of the existence of glaucoma because his brain fills in the missing parts imaginary. After this stage, if the patient has <\/span>glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> in both eyes, he begins to be unable to distinguish close color tones from each other. (To detect the existence of such a situation, it will be useful to close the right and left eyes alternately and look at close colored\/transitional objects.).<\/span><\/p>\n

As the disease progresses, it is expected that some images will fade and dark spots will merge and create gaps. This condition can be described as a circular narrowing from the periphery to the center (In some patients, there is a loss of vision in the opposite direction.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from all these, situations such as persistent pain in one or both eyes, vision starting to become blurred, or seeing colored halos when looking at a light source are among the important signs to evaluate whether glaucoma is present.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is very important for people over the age of 40 to have an eye examination once a year, even if they have no complaints, in order not to miss the diagnosis of <\/span>eye<\/span><\/strong><\/span>pressure<\/span><\/strong> , which we describe as an insidious disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

Classification of Glaucoma<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/span><\/strong>It is possible to generally divide glaucoma into three groups: primary, secondary and congenital. While <\/strong><\/span>primary glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> develops spontaneously, <\/span>secondary glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> occurs due to a disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glaucoma (eye pressure)<\/span><\/strong> may also occur due to developmental disorders. In this type of congenital glaucoma, the channels that play a role in expelling intraocular fluid to maintain pressure balance do not develop while the baby is still in the womb. The baby may have <\/span>glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> in one or both eyes . The typical sign of <\/span>glaucoma in infants<\/span><\/strong> is that the affected eye is unusually large. In addition, the opacity or enlargement of the corneal layer or constant tearing in the eye also brings to mind the presence of <\/span>eye tension<\/span><\/strong> .<\/span><\/p>\n

The most common (about 90%) glaucoma in adults is chronic simple glaucoma (primary open-angle glaucoma), which belongs to the primary glaucoma group. The trabecular network, which plays a role in excreting eye fluid, cannot perform its filtering function properly, thus glaucoma occurs as the intraocular pressure increases. It is usually seen in individuals over the age of forty, does not cause any symptoms at first, and progresses slowly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Angle-closure glaucoma (narrow-angle glaucoma) constitutes a small portion of glaucoma seen in adults. In these patients with a narrow anterior chamber angle, eye fluid cannot be expelled because the iris root has formed in front of the trabecular network for various reasons. <\/span>Narrow-angle glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> requires urgent intervention because there is a sudden increase in eye pressure. Such patients typically experience blurred vision, vomiting, and severe pain around the eyes and head.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Causes Eye Pressure?<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/span>Glaucoma (eye pressure)<\/span><\/strong> , which is seen in 70 million people worldwide , is a disease whose cause is unknown as of today. According to research, although there are some factors that trigger glaucoma, it is impossible to say that any of them is the only reason that causes the disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

The main risk factor for glaucoma (eye pressure) is<\/span><\/strong> the accumulation of intraocular fluid inside the eye and thus the increase in intraocular pressure. Apart from this, genetic predisposition, thin cornea, myopia, features of the optic disc, circulatory disorders, advancing age, uncontrolled drug use, blow to the eye, diabetes, etc. Factors can also lead to glaucoma.<\/span><\/p>\n

For your questions about glaucoma treatment, you can contact us via our Whatsapp contact line.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Relationship between intraocular pressure and Glaucoma (Eye Pressure Disease)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Intraocular pressure, which is created by the colorless liquid called aqueous humor located between the cornea and the intraocular lens and is normally expected to be between 9 and 22 mmHg, plays an important role in maintaining the health of the eye. The level of intraocular pressure varies from person to person and between times of day, parallel to health history.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is important that the intraocular fluid is in balance (the balance between the amount of fluid remaining in the eye and being expelled), because disruption of the balance causes the fluid accumulated in the eye to increase, which leads <\/span>to eye pressure . <\/span><\/strong><\/span>Glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> , as it is mentioned, is a disease of optic neuropathy (infection of the eye nerves) and may occur due to persistently high eye pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it may be seen even if the intraocular pressure is at normal values, or it may not be seen even if the intraocular pressure is high. In other words, the effect of intraocular pressure varies from person to person. For example, in a person whose intraocular pressure is 18 mmHg, we can diagnose <\/span>eye pressure<\/span><\/strong> by seeing that the optic nerves are affected during the examination and set the target as lowering the intraocular pressure to levels lower than 18 mmHg. However, pressure exceeding 20 mmHg is considered the biggest cause of <\/span>glaucoma .<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In summary , <\/span>high eye pressure<\/span><\/strong> (ocular hypertension) is a condition in which the intraocular pressure rises for different reasons, but the optic nerves are not damaged (referred to as ocular hypertension in the medical literature). In order to be diagnosed <\/span>with eye pressure disease (glaucoma),<\/span><\/strong> the optic nerves must be damaged.<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/span><\/sup>Although the intraocular pressure is within the normal range, if the optic nerves are damaged, there is a loss of vision not from the outside to the center, but in the opposite direction, from the center to the outside.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How to Diagnose Glaucoma?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> is an insidious disease that progresses without symptoms (asymptomatic), it is usually diagnosed during routine eye examinations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Measuring the intraocular pressure level with a tonometry test and evaluating the optic nerves with an ophthalmoscope or biomicroscope, which are integral parts of routine eye examinations, are important steps in revealing the presence of glaucoma. Apart from these, the ophthalmologist may use different methods to evaluate the visual field and trabecular network.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glaucoma Treatment<\/span><\/h2>\n

Glaucoma (eye pressure disease)<\/span><\/strong> , if not detected and treated, causes partial or complete and permanent loss of vision (13.5% of total blindness worldwide is caused by glaucoma).<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to prevent blindness, it is extremely important for people to have regular full eye health screenings and to receive treatment if glaucoma is detected, without waiting for any symptoms to appear. <\/span>Glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> , which is monitored by performing the necessary tests under the supervision of a specialist physician , is not expected to completely blind the patient.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glaucoma (eye pressure disease)<\/span><\/strong> is one of the diseases that progresses insidiously, that is, it does not cause any complaints in the patient until the late stages. Glaucoma’s damage to nerve cells called ganglion increases day by day. The main problem is that the damaged nerve cells and ganglia have no possibility of recovery\/renewal. Therefore, treatment is aimed at stopping the progression of the disease and maintaining the current state of eye health and should be continued throughout life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since there is no single type <\/span>of glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> , there is no single type of treatment. Like the type of disease, the patient’s current condition also affects the treatment. For example, in some patients, due to a blockage that cannot be seen from the outside with the naked eye, the eye fluid increases, increasing the intraocular pressure, and this pressure leads to glaucoma. In some patients, glaucoma <\/span>is<\/span><\/strong> detected even though the intraocular pressure is not high. Therefore, it can be said that <\/span>glaucoma treatment<\/span><\/strong> varies from patient to patient. After the diagnosis, the physician decides the most appropriate treatment method.<\/span><\/p>\n

The main goal of glaucoma treatment<\/span><\/strong> is to reduce intraocular pressure today, as in the past. Within the scope of <\/span>glaucoma (eye pressure disease),<\/span><\/strong> patients are mostly treated with medication. Although this treatment appeals to the majority of patients, laser treatment and surgical methods can also be applied, depending on the type of glaucoma. In case of <\/span>congenital glaucoma<\/span><\/strong> , surgical intervention is usually performed. Medication may also be preferred for some infant patients.<\/span><\/p>\n