Life without glasses is great
Glaucoma, also known as the silent thief of sight, is one of the most common causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Up to half of patients are unaware of their condition, because in its early stages the disease does not cause any symptoms. By the time the first symptoms appear, the disease is often already advanced and the vision damage cannot be reversed.
That is why World Glaucoma Week, taking place this year from March 8–14, aims to highlight the crucial importance of prevention and regular eye examinations.
Glaucoma is a chronic disease characterized by the gradual degeneration and death of the optic nerve. The main risk factor is elevated intraocular pressure, which can slowly and painlessly damage the nerve fibers that transmit visual information to the brain.
The disease typically begins with subtle loss of peripheral vision, which patients may not notice. Without timely treatment, glaucoma can gradually lead to tunnel vision and, in the final stages, complete loss of sight.
“Glaucoma is one of the most dangerous eye diseases precisely because it often develops without symptoms for a long time. Patients usually notice problems only when irreversible vision damage has already occurred. Damage to the optic nerve and visual field loss cannot be restored once it has developed. However, early treatment can slow the progression of the disease and help preserve visual function for as long as possible. Early detection and timely treatment are therefore essential,”
says Radan Zugar, MD, Head of the Eye Center Prague.
Glaucoma is among the leading causes of blindness worldwide, affecting approximately 80 million people, with more than 4.5 million already blind due to the disease.
In the Czech Republic, an estimated 360,000 people live with glaucoma, and up to half of them are unaware of their diagnosis. The risk of developing the disease increases significantly with age.
The main risk factors include:
elevated intraocular pressure
age over 40
family history and genetic predisposition
other factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, severe myopia, and long-term stress
“The most significant risk factor for glaucoma is increased intraocular pressure, which patients cannot feel. It does not cause pain or other warning signs, yet it can gradually and irreversibly damage the optic nerve. The only way to detect it is through a preventive eye examination that includes intraocular pressure measurement,”
adds Dr. Zugar.
Regular preventive eye examinations play a crucial role in protecting eyesight. Specialists recommend undergoing these examinations from the age of 40, even in the absence of symptoms. For individuals with a family history of glaucoma or other risk factors, regular check-ups are even more important.
The examination includes, among other procedures, measurement of intraocular pressure, which allows doctors to detect the disease in its early stages.
“Modern diagnostic methods such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual field testing, and intraocular pressure measurement allow us to detect glaucoma early and start treatment before serious vision damage occurs. Regular preventive examinations from the age of 40 are key to maintaining good vision even later in life,”
concludes Dr. Zugar.
If glaucoma is diagnosed early, its progression can be effectively slowed down. Treatment primarily focuses on reducing intraocular pressure and most commonly involves conservative therapy with eye drops.
In some cases, laser treatment or surgical procedures may also be used.
At Eye Center Prague, patients also have access to a modern surgical method using titanium micro-implants called iStents, which help reduce intraocular pressure and stabilize the disease. This procedure is fully covered by health insurance.
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