What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by loss of vision due to damage of the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries sight images to the brain, and any damage to the nerve results in damage to sight.

Glaucoma is often called "the sneak thief of sight." This is because in most cases, the pressure inside the eye can build up and destroy sight without causing obvious symptoms. Thus, awareness and early detection of glaucoma are extremely important because this disease can be successfully treated when diagnosed early. While everyone is at risk for glaucoma, certain persons are at a much higher risk and need to be checked more frequently by their eye doctor.

At Abdulhadi Eye hospital modern diagnostic tests are available include automated visual field testing, retinal nerve fiber layer photography, stereoscopic disc photography and computerized optic disc analysis

How is Glaucoma treated at Abdulhadi Eye Hospital?

Doctors specialized in the treatment of Glaucoma at Abdulhadi Eye hospital seeks to decrease eye pressure and prevent damage to the optic nerve. Different types of glaucoma require different therapies to prevent further damage to the eye's structures. Treatment can be one or a combination of the following:

• Eye drops (or a combination of eye drops and pills) to reduce intraocular pressure.

• Laser treatment to open the drainage angle and reduce intraocular pressure.

• Surgery to create a new passage for fluid drainage. Surgery is usually reserved for cases that cannot be controlled by medication and following appropriate laser treatment.