Elevated ocular pressure and glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a chronic eye condition that is the result of excessively high eye pressure, which damages the optical nerves. If the drainage of fluid doesn’t work properly, the pressure in your eye will increase and might damage the optical nerves. Because you usually can’t notice glaucoma yourself, it is important that from the age of 45 to 50, you have your eye pressure measured regularly. If there is glaucoma in your family, we recommend that you do so starting at the age of 40.

Symptoms of glaucoma

Chronic glaucoma

Your field of vision gradually reduces.
At a more advanced stage, your visual acuity also decreases.
Blind spots will emerge in your field of vision, often without you even realising it.

Acute glaucoma

Your eyes become painful, red and dull.
Your vision becomes blurred.
You get headaches, dizziness and nausea.

Treatment of glaucoma

It is important to have your eye pressure measured regularly by your eye doctor, and to have a check-up of your optical nerve, in order to detect glaucoma early. In the event of symptoms of glaucoma, it is important to take quick action since occurred damage to the nerve cells cannot be repaired. The emphasis of glaucoma treatment is on lowering the eye pressure. This can be done with a laser treatment, eye drops or, in exceptional cases, an eye operation.

The treatment of glaucoma is aimed at keeping the eye pressure low permanently. Glaucoma is unfortunately incurable and damage that has already been caused cannot be repaired. That is why it is important for glaucoma to be diagnosed early, so that it can be treated appropriately. Regular check-ups are therefore important.

What treatments do we offer?

UNIQUE IN BELGIUM – direct Selective Laser Trabuloplasty (dSLT)

We are the first in Belgium to be able to offer our patients the Belkin ‘no-touch’ laser treatment for glaucoma. This brand-new treatment is now prescribed by the glaucoma association as the preferred treatment, even ahead of the use of drops.

In this painless laser treatment, the ophtalmologist does not have to touch your eyes (‘no touch’) at all.
With this laser, short pulses are used to widen your tear drainage system. This way, the fluid in your eye can drain away better and your eye pressure will decrease. This laser treatment is painless and usually has to be repeated after 3 to 5 years.

Eye drops

Patients who can’t tolerate lasers or don’t respond well to the laser treatment are treated with eye drops to keep the eye pressure stable. The eye drops are intended to reduce the aqueous humour or improve drainage of fluid. Depending on the sort of drops your ophthalmologist prescribes, they will need to be administered once or twice a day.

Microstent

With this surgical procedure, carried out under local anaesthesia, a new drainage channel is created in order to reduce the eye pressure. The new drainage channel is made with a tiny tube with the size of an eyelash, known as a microstent.

Glaucoma operation (trabeculectomy)

In this procedure, carried out under local anaesthesia with drops, a small opening is made in the white part of the eye, so that fluid can drain away. This will reduce eye pressure considerably.

How much does glaucoma treatment cost?

The cost of this treatment varies and depends on the approach selected and the seriousness of the glaucoma. During the consultation, we will explain the costs of your specific treatment. This treatment is covered by medical insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is glaucoma and how does it develop?

Glaucoma is a chronic, insidious condition in which the optic nerve thins due to elevated intraocular pressure. As people age, the balance between the production and drainage of aqueous humor can become disrupted, causing intraocular pressure to rise. In Belgium, approximately 2% of people over the age of 40 have glaucoma. Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually lead to blindness.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma and how can you recognize it?

In its early stages, glaucoma causes no symptoms: no pressure, no redness, and no vision problems. As a result, 50 to 70% of people with glaucoma are unaware they have it. The only way to detect glaucoma is to have your eye pressure checked by an ophthalmologist every two years starting at age 40, especially if there is a family history of glaucoma. Only a combination of tests can lead to an accurate diagnosis.

When is eye pressure too high and what are the symptoms of high eye pressure?

Your intraocular pressure is too high when it exceeds 21 mmHg (the normal range is 12 to 21 mmHg). The tricky thing is that high intraocular pressure usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. You don’t feel anything, so the condition can go unnoticed. Elevated intraocular pressure is the main risk factor for glaucoma. Other risk factors include older age, a family history of glaucoma, severe nearsightedness or farsightedness, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
But be aware: there is also a form of glaucoma with normal intraocular pressure. It’s best to have it checked.

How is glaucoma treated and can glaucoma be cured?

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but its progression can be slowed by lowering intraocular pressure. At Medipolis Eye Center, the first-line treatment is dSLT laser therapy, which stimulates the drainage of aqueous humor from the eye. Only 10% of patients require repeat treatment after 3 to 5 years. Patients who do not respond to the laser are prescribed eye drops or, if necessary, a micro-stent.

Is glaucoma hereditary and how can it be prevented?

Yes, glaucoma is highly hereditary. If glaucoma runs in your family, Medipolis Eye Center recommends an annual checkup starting at age 40. Early detection is essential, because damage to the optic nerve caused by glaucoma is irreversible. The earlier glaucoma is diagnosed, the better we can prevent further damage.