Why glaucoma can't go untreated
Written by:
Ophthalmologist
Published: 21/01/2020
Edited by: Emma McLeod
Glaucoma is a condition of the optic nerve which gets damaged in many cases because the pressure in the eyeball, the intraocular pressure, is high.
What if I don’t get treatment for glaucoma?
If left untreated, the excess pressure in the eyeball damages the optic nerve by thinning it out. We (eye specialists) can physically see this during a checkup when we examine the back of the eye. When the optic nerve gets cut or thinned, it can lead to visual loss, particularly in the peripheral field of vision. In the early stages of glaucoma, you may not even be aware that you're losing your peripheral vision. This is because, when it comes to peripheral vision, your brain will often fill in the gaps because it’s already used to seeing in those places.
Now, as the disease progresses, it can lead to visual loss in the centre of your vision. In untreated cases, glaucoma can lead to blindness. So it is important that glaucoma is treated and we can treat it by lowering the intraocular pressure. Lowering the pressure will lower the risk of any further damage to your eyesight and to the optic nerve. Even one millimetre of mercury reduction reduces your risk by 10%.
With treatment, you can live a normal, healthy life
So, glaucoma should be treated and in the majority of cases is treated very effectively. So effectively, in fact, that patients continue to lead a normal and healthy life with good vision.
Which procedure is best for me?
Which procedure is best for you is a discussion that needs to take place between you and your glaucoma specialist. He or she should be able to discuss fully with you your options. Broadly speaking there are three categories of treatments and one new treatment that isn't in place yet.
Eyedrops
Eyedrops need to be used once or even twice or three times a day to lower the pressure within the eye.
Implants
In the future, there will be some new implants coming out which will mimic what eyedrops do. Implants would be inserted into the surface of your eye and you wouldn’t have to worry about putting eye drops in.
Lasers
With regards to lasers, they are effective in many cases. They're a very simple and painless way of lowering eye pressure, but they may not take you off the eyedrops completely. There's a recent study that showed that lasers will lower the pressure and take the need away for eyedrops in about three-quarters of patients. However, it’s important to note that this study was done on patients with early glaucoma and not those with established glaucoma and used eyedrops for many years.
Surgery
Sometimes, lasers are not suitable for patients and surgery may be required. Within surgery, there are a few options, and that will again depend on your eye and also your own wishes and desires, and most importantly what your surgeon is familiar with and what your surgeon feels is suitable for you.
For example, MIG surgery (the minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) is effective in a lot of eyes but it’s not for everyone. The most effective way of lowering your eye pressure and preserving your eyesight is always a priority and your glaucoma specialist will definitely be able to help you decide which is best for you.
Don’t hesitate to get your eyes checked, regardless of if you’ve noticed a change in vision or not. Book a consultation with Mr Vik Sharma via his profile.