DISEASE
Message of common value
"the intraocular pressure is too high with a normal anterior chamber angle"
THE CILIAR BODY PRODUCES THE MOIST OF THE ANTERIOR CHAMBER
GLAUCOMA
CAUSE:
This condition is usually due to a (family) poor drainage of the fluid inside the eye, rarely to large production. This allows the eye to rise in pressure. High eye pressure has nothing to do with high blood pressure. Sometimes an eye pressure of less than 20 mm Hg also cause problems. This usually occurs in people with bad blood: vein calcification by diabetes or hypertension / reactive blood vessels: cold hands and feet / Migraine
RESULT:
Too high eye pressure pushes the blood vessels of the optic nerve close so slowly (over 10 years), but the optic nerve fibers die (starting with the outermost). Accordingly, there is a dimple in the optic nerve and visual field will shrink. Given the vision of it is little used, the patient noted only late that something is wrong. Thus, the disease usually in an advanced stage and unfortunately nothing can be done to improve visibility. Part of the optic nerve is indeed dead and this is irreversible (a new optic nerve can not be implanted!). Only if it is established early glaucoma may increase, thanks to treatment, the IOP below 20 mm Hg reduced the optic nerve and does not (further) die (can give blindness!).
FREQUENCY:
2 / 100 from 40 years on average (particularly if there are family problems) - usually both eyes! Up to 80years 4% of people have glaucoma!
HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT:
There are no complaints, except when the pressure is extremely high (above 40 mm Hg). Then you can feel a crushing pain, above the affected eye. Consequently, measuring the eye pressure in anyone over 40 years, is the only way to detect glaucoma. This research is therefore carried out at each reading glasses adjustment (read classical problems start because around 40 years of age). The measurement is completely painless and only takes a few seconds. This is done by direct contact or by an air blast (a little less accurate!). This is a good reason to customize your reading glasses by an ophthalmologist!
THINGS TO DO:
Eye drops (1 or more species), the fluid secretion (eg Timopos, Betagan, Carteol, and TRUSOPT Betoptic) or reduce the discharge opening up (eg Isoptocarpine / Xalatan / Lumigan) for many years. If that doesn't work is laser therapy designated , with fire dots in the drain to improve drainage. This is a almost painless treatment and for this the patient should not be included. This treatment must be repeated regularly after a few years! If that's not enough, there must be a small operation done to widen the drainage system. This operation does not improve your eyesight! As with any surgery complications: hematoma / infection / cataracts and even loss of vision. Fortunately, the eye drops in recent years become much stronger. Rarely has yet to undergo surgery!
Regular checks with optic review (erosion, the increase - why are some photos taken!), Pressure measurement and purview are assigned to check the eye pressure is normal and remains normal. For glaucoma is no definitive cure!
EXTRA TIPS:
- Never take large amounts of moisture in a short time: a large glass of water an hour can not hurt!
- Smoking and alcohol use are best avoided. Watch out for excessive use of coffee!
- Good cardiac function should be pursued.
- Blood pressure should not be too high nor too low, otherwise the optic nerve suffers a too high eye pressure. Hypertension? Best treated with beta blockers or catapressan (alpha = 2 stimulator)
- Twice a day drip means morning upon waking and at night when you go to sleep (the specific hours are not so important in practice)
- Best, siblings also checked for glaucoma by their own ophthalmologist.
- If you have to use 2 types of drops after eachother, you should wait 5 minutes between both drops! The lacrimal tube (attached to the nasal side of the lower eyelid) for 1 minute crush can help reduce side effects to get general (eg, slow heartbeat shortness of breath at + beta blockers such as timolol, or Carteol Betagan)
- Use of cortisone (in pills but especially in eye drops) can give a risen eye pressure!
- Don't tie your tie too tight around your neck. This gives an average of 2.6mm Hg pressure rise!
- Seeing colored rings around lights ("rainbows") may indicate a significant pressure rise. Usually this happens at night and is usually accompanied by reduced visibility! You need to consult urgently!
IMPORTANT: Never stop spontaneously with eye drops, even if you notice any difference after discontinuation of the drops. You don't feel a too high eye pressure yourself, but your vision slowly progressive affected. You really only notice them when vision is severely limited. Then no treatment is to restore your vision loss. We can only attempt to avoid further damage! Therefore:
• Take your eye drops along with hospitalization
· Try to apply your drops at a fixed time (eg if the first steps after getting up and as the last work before bed) so that you reduce the chance that you forget the eye drops.
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