Genetic Factors Can Increase Glaucoma Risk 7 Times

Glaucoma, or eye pressure as it is commonly called, is one of the diseases of the eyes that progresses stealthily. Ophthalmologists have warned that if glaucoma, which can even lead to vision loss when left untreated, is seen in one of the close family members, the risk may increase by about 7 times.

Glaucoma, which can lead to irreversible vision loss, affects 70 million people worldwide, including 6 million with complete vision loss. In open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common type of glaucoma, especially first-degree relatives such as mother, father, and siblings have glaucoma, which increases the risk of occurrence of the disease in family members by 7 times. Although glaucoma is generally known as an advanced-age disease, Yeditepe University Hospitals Eye Diseases specialists, who pointed out that it may actually occur in young people, even in newborn babies and children, said that congenital glaucoma, which occurs especially in the first 3 years after birth, is more common in babies born from consanguineous marriages.

In addition to genetic factors, other factors such as diabetes, blood pressure, migraine, hypothyroidism, eye injuries, and anemia are among the risk factors that increase the likelihood of glaucoma. Informing that past eye surgeries will sometimes trigger glaucoma, Yeditepe University Hospitals Eye Diseases Specialists said, "In addition, myopia or hyperopia of the eye are other factors that increase the risk of developing glaucoma."

Beware of These Complaints!

Specialists say the symptoms of glaucoma may vary according to the type of disease and the age of occurrence, and they explained the following about the complaints of the patients: "In open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common type of glaucoma, complaints are very few. The patient may have complaints such as headache, blurred vision, near vision problems, and dark adaptation disorders. However, the patient's vision is not impaired and may remain normal until the last stages of glaucoma. This creates difficulties in the early diagnosis of glaucoma."

Anyone with a Family History of Glaucoma Should Have a Check-up Every Other Year

In addition to the routine eye examination for the diagnosis of glaucoma, specialists who say that the intraocular pressure and corneal thickness of the person are measured, added: "The visual field, visual nerve, and retinal vessels are examined. Different examinations are also used to determine the type of glaucoma. However, it is beneficial for those with glaucoma in their family to have regular check-ups every year. It should not be forgotten that glaucoma is a disease that can be treated when diagnosed early and can be prevented from leading to blindness. Because glaucoma is an asymptomatic disease, routine screenings are essential for early diagnosis. Patients who wear glasses are lucky in this sense because they are routinely followed up in some way. However, it is necessary to spread glaucoma screenings to the whole society, including those with glaucoma in the first ring and those over the age of 40."

Treatment Continues Lifetime

Ophthalmologists emphasize that the treatment of glaucoma should be life-long because it is a chronic disease. "The most important criterion for the success of the treatment is that the individual recognizes the disease and follows the recommendations of their physician during the treatment process. The main purpose of the treatment is to prevent further deterioration in vision rather than recovery of a healthy state." They provided the following information about the methods used in the treatment of glaucoma: "Drug treatment is one of the main methods used in the treatment. First of all, the patient's eye pressure is reduced by either reducing the production of fluid in the eye or increasing its output. Drugs are used for these two methods. If the eye pressure of the patient does not decrease and the visual field narrows despite the drug treatment; the treatment method to be applied is mostly laser and surgery."

Who Is Suitable for Laser Treatment?

The specialists, who explained that laser beams were used for different purposes according to the patient's condition, provided the following information about the areas where the laser treatment was used:

"In primary closed-angle glaucoma patients or people who have had an acute glaucoma attack, a hole is drilled into the surface of the iris to facilitate the passage of intraocular fluid from the place where it is produced to the exit channels. Secondly, in cases of chronic open-angle glaucoma, lasers can be applied to the outflow channels to facilitate the outflow of fluid produced within the eye. In addition, laser treatment is also used in patients with advanced glaucoma who have undergone more than one eye surgery. Here, the cells that produce liquids themselves are destroyed by the laser. Thus, it may be possible to reduce intraocular pressure without the need for a very advanced surgical method."

Surgical Treatment Alternatives Differ According to the Patient

One of the methods used in the treatment of glaucoma is surgery. Yeditepe University Eye Diseases Specialists, who summarized the purpose of surgical treatment as ensuring that the fluid produced within the eye leaves the eye by forming a fistula, gave the following information about surgical treatment: "This process is called fistulizing surgeries. With this surgery, a hole is opened in the white part of the eye. With this hole, which is too small to be seen from the outside, an excess fluid inside the eye is formed and ejected. "Tube Implants" are also used to continuously provide this clearance in cases where conventional fistulizing surgeries have failed. As a result of important innovations in the shapes and functions of tube implants in glaucoma, much smaller implants can be placed in the eye and permanent intraocular pressure control can be achieved. In congenital glaucoma, special operations are performed first, taking into account the condition and age of the baby's eye, usually without medical and laser treatment."