One of the most common causes of blindness worldwide
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve which connects the eye to the brain is damaged. It is more common with age.
Symptoms
Mostly glaucoma does not cause any noticeable symptoms for the patient until very late in the disease, then vision starts to seriously decline. Acute glaucoma (closed angle) however can cause sudden severe pain and blurring, with haloes around lights.
When to see a doctor
If you have a family history of glaucoma and are over 30 years of age you should be checked regularly. Anyone over 50 years should have a check. If you have noticed that you are bumping into objects or they disappear from your view this could represent serious blind spots developing.
The optic nerve can be damaged by high pressure that occurs from a build-up of fluid inside your eye. Sometimes similar changes can be seen with pressure at lower levels also.
Short-sighted patients (myopia) and those with cardiovascular problems may be more at risk.
The two main types of glaucoma are:
- Open-angle glaucoma – this form progresses slowly and usually goes unnoticed which may mean damage has already occurred by the time you seek treatment and is irreversible. This is the most common form of glaucoma
- Closed-angle glaucoma – symptoms such as pain and vision loss can appear suddenly, often resulting in prompt treatment which can help to prevent long-lasting damage. This is potentially a very serious form of glaucoma and needs to be treated urgently to prevent blindness.
There are also other, rarer forms of glaucoma associated with trauma or inflammation in the eye. Our team have experience in a wide range of complex and uncommon cases of glaucoma.
The main goal of treatment is to prevent any further vision loss or disease progression. While there is no simple cure, effective treatments and supports are available.
If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, your ophthalmologist will aim to reduce the pressure in your eye that is causing the build-up of fluid. In patients with glaucoma sometimes even if the pressure is “normal” lowering it further can slow down the vision loss.
The pressure can be treated with medication (eye drops), laser or surgery. Your ophthalmologist will discuss the available treatment options and other considerations such as your overall health, risk factors and any pre-existing conditions.
Glaucoma requires ongoing management and care. Your ophthalmologist will develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs, and your plan will be monitored and adapted over time. Monitoring usually involves:
- visual field tests (to check the peripheral vision). Watch a video about visual field tests.
- imaging of the retina and optic nerve with OCT scanning. Watch a video about ocular imaging.
The greatest risk factor is a family history, and the more relatives affected the higher the risk. There are no specific lifestyle changes, but it is recommended to ensure good cardiovascular health and diet, and not smoking.
Professor Stuart Graham leads the Vision Science Research Team at MQ Health — who are investigating the mechanisms of damage in glaucoma and developing techniques and new therapeutic approaches to try to protect the optic nerve.
Many of our patients have provided a blood sample for an Australia-wide genetics study to determine how the condition is passed on in families, and to determine if we can design specific therapies.