The main characteristic of the glaucoma disease is the gradual damage and destruction of the optic nerve fibers, which is mostly caused by a disturbed balance between increased intraocular pressure and the production and outflow of aqueous humor. Its most common form, primary open-angle glaucoma, can affect up to 2% of the population, causes no complaints, and the individual does not even notice the gradual deterioration of vision. Since the damage that has already developed is irreversible, regular screening, timely diagnosis and targeted therapy are very important, so that further damage and the progression of the disease can be prevented. In the case of the painful form of the disease, the glaucomatous attack, the leading symptoms are blurred vision, eye redness, seeing rainbow rings around light sources and severe pain around the eyes.
Glaucoma can develop as an accompanying phenomenon of other ophthalmic diseases (secondary glaucoma), or it can be an inborn change as a result of a developmental disorder (congenital).
Predisposing factors in adulthood are family accumulation, fluctuating intraocular pressure, vasoconstriction, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption.
During the glaucoma examination, a slit-lamp and fundus examination, intraocular pressure measurement (several times a day), visual acuity, visual field tests and OCT are performed. The treatment basically consists of the use of eye drops and rarely surgery or laser treatment which can be performed on an outpatient basis.