Glaucoma (Eye Pressure)

The condition popularly known as “karasu” disease or eye pressure is an important public health problem because it progresses extremely insidiously and can result in blindness.

Due to blockage in the trabecular channels that allow fluid inside the eye to drain out, intraocular pressure rises and over time causes irreversible damage to the nerve of vision (optic nerve).

How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?

It is often diagnosed by measuring intraocular pressure with a Tonometry device, either during routine eye examinations or when the patient visits an eye doctor because of headaches, pain around the eye, episodes of blurred vision, seeing halos around lights or, in advanced cases, a painful red eye.

The optic nerve is evaluated with a Slit Lamp Biomicroscope. Vision loss is investigated with a Visual Field Test. Damage to the optic nerve is assessed with OCT devices.

What Are the Risk Factors for Glaucoma?

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Genetic predisposition
• Myopia (inability to see distant objects clearly)
• Long-term cortisone treatment
• Eye injuries

If you have these risk factors and/or glaucoma in your first-degree relatives, we recommend that you visit our eye clinic at frequent intervals.

Can Eye Pressure Be Treated?

Eye damage and vision loss that have already occurred cannot be reversed, but the progression of the disease can be stopped with treatment.

Eye drops

• Eye drops must be used regularly at the times and doses recommended by the doctor. The doctor should be informed about any side effects of the medication.
• Any systemic health problem (diabetes, rheumatic diseases, genetic disorders) should be shared with the doctor.
• In cases that cannot be controlled with eye drops, surgery or laser treatments are used to try to keep the pressure at a normal level.

We would like to emphasize once again that early diagnosis is very important.