Glaucoma blog

SLT laser

SLT laser is a form of "cold laser" that does not burn the trabecular meshwork - rather it stimulates it to enhance drainage of fluid out of the eye. The results are modestly impressive - 5 year results indicate a 20-30% drop in eye pressure. It is a treatment that can be repeated, and surgery to control pressure can be delayed or postponed indefinitely as a result.

Latest items

Glaucoma news

Memantine is a new drug for glaucoma, that has undergone extensive trials to establish its effectiveness. Disappointingly, it has not demonstrated the benefits expected, and plans to release this medication in the UK are therefore on hold.

News

Summary of all glaucoma articles

Primary open angle glaucoma

Written by Administrator
Thursday, 08 November 2007
This is the commonest type of glaucoma in the UK. Eye pressure tends to rise slowly and this causes damage to the trabecular meshword - part of the eye that drains fluid away from the eye. Nerve fibres within the optic nerve can get damaged as a result and this can lead to visual field loss typically over years. If treatment is given the risk of visual field progression can be reduced substantially. Those over 40 should be tested for glaucoma when having a routine sight test.
Last Updated ( Friday, 09 November 2007 )

Pseudoexfoliative glaucoma

Written by Administrator
Thursday, 08 November 2007
This condition is characterised by tiny white flaky deposits on the lens surface - and elsewhere in the eye - also in other parts of the body infact. Treatment is the same as for primary open angle glaucoma. Patients may respond well to laser treatment (laser trabeculoplasty).

Types of glaucoma

Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 07 November 2007
The commonest type of glaucoma in the UK is primary open angle glaucoma. In other parts of the world normal pressure glaucoma is more common (eg Japan); in other regions eg Asia angle closure is much more common than in the UK.
Last Updated ( Friday, 09 November 2007 )

Normal pressure glaucoma

Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 07 November 2007
Normal pressure glaucoma is an optic neuropathy associated with normal intraocular pressures (ie less than 22 mmHg). A proportion of these patients are found to have thin corneas.
Last Updated ( Friday, 09 November 2007 )
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Normal pressure glaucoma plus...

Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 07 November 2007
The following are commonner associations: • steroid use (eg nasal sprays, inhaled or oral steroids, or steroid creams) • vasospasm – migraine / Raynauds • systemic nocturnal hypotension • thyroid disease (increased risk) • sleep apnoea (especially in overweight men) • Alzheimer's disease
Last Updated ( Friday, 09 November 2007 )

Normal pressure glaucoma tests

Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 07 November 2007
Investigations (physician only comment) • FBC – rule out anaemia • CRP / ESR – rule out a condition called "anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy" • VDRL/FTA – syphilis is a very rare association • ANA – autoimmune diseases, also Ro, La, Sm • paraproteinaemia – rule out lymphoproliferative disease • Lebers – mitochondrial testing where indicated
Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 November 2007 )

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Medication

Medications for glaucoma

Glaucoma medications are constantly improving and new agents combine prosta drugs and beta blockers. This improves 'compliance' ie how well the medication is taken, as many patients forget to take drops.

Iridotomy

Latest news

Laser iridotomy is performed to reduce the risk of or to treat primary angle closure ("narrow angle glaucoma"). This type of glaucoma can be associated with longsightedness, and may run in the family, as with other types of glaucoma. Iridotomy is a safe procedure, and prevent angle closure in most cases, but does not eliminate the risk. Sometimes cataract surgery is preferred as a primary option.

Types

Appointments

There are over a hundred types of glaucoma. Most commonly, in the UK, patients have Primary Open Angle Glaucoma ("POAG"). Most types of glaucoma are treated the same. Some variants progress at different rates, but most types progress slowly but surely (ie lead to visual field loss) without treatment. Another common type is Normal Pressure Glaucoma. This tends to be more slowly progressive. Secondary glaucomas are rare (less than 5%), as is congenital glaucoma.