Glaucoma Treatment
What is the field of vision?
The field of vision refers to the part of the outside world that you can see without moving your eyes. The field of vision is examined using a perimeter to pinpoint areas of vision loss. These areas only become visible, however, when approx. 2/3 of the nerve fibers have atrophied. Newer devices such as the Zeiss Humphrey Matrix enable the recognition of blind spots in the field of vision even early on with a rapid screening process.
Zeiss Humphrey Matrix
Measuring intraocular pressure alone is not enough
There are various methods for measuring intraocular pressure. All of them press the eye inward slightly within a defined range. A thick cornea can lead to erroneous high intraocular pressure measurements. Measuring the thickness of the cornea (Pachymetry) provides information on its consistency. Because intraocular pressure is subject to a high degree of fluctuation according to the time of day, it makes good sense to check the pressure at different times of the days and possibly even at night as well. This is referred to as a 24-hour pressure profile.
Examination of the head of the optic disk (papilla)
The analysis of the optic disk (papilla), the area in which the bundled retina nerves leave the eye, is an important examination. The eye doctor can, for example, look closely for bleeding or increasing depth (excavation). The Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) can now provide exact documentation of changes in the optic disk. This permits objective representation of changes or progression of the disease.
What types of therapy are possible?
The main type of glaucoma treatment used is medication-based therapy with eye drops. More than 90% of those suffering from glaucoma can be treated this way. If the desired success cannot be achieved with medication, laser treatment or ultimately surgery are other options.
Slit-lamp examination