Glaucoma – The Silent Thief of Sight

Prof. S. MelamedDirector, The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Sheba Hospital, Tel Hashomer

Tel Aviv University

Definition of Glaucoma

Optic Nerve Disease with typical nerve damage and visual field loss

**Elevated IOP is a causative risk factor

Glaucoma and Blindness

*Still reason # 2 for Blindness in the developed world!!

*Reason # 1 for Blindness in most 3rd world countries!!

Eye Anatomy

• The optic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers

• It carries visual information from the retina to the brain

Fluid Circulation

• The eye has an internal fluid circulation system

• Fluid is produced at the base of the iris

Fluid Circulation• The fluid flows

through the pupil to the front of the iris

Irido-Corneal Angle

CB-TM-SC Relationship

Scleral Spur

Inner Wall of SC

“Self Cleaning Filter” Trabecular Cells Are:

• Phagocytic

• Secrete Proteo-Glycans

• Are constantly moving

• Retain Conductivity of TM

• Remove blocking Particles

Normal Glaucoma

End- Stage Glaucoma

In Glaucoma

Due to Obstruction/Malfunction of Drainage

*IOP is Elevated

*It causes damage to Optic Nerve and Visual Field

Normal Visual Field Healthy Optic Nerve

Sick Optic nerve Damaged Visual FieldElevated IOP

In the Normal Population *IOP is 12-20 mm Hg

* 8% have elevated IOP – “OHT”

* The OHT group has more chances for conversion to Glaucoma

Risk Factors for Conversion to Glaucoma

*Family History of Glaucoma

*Thin Corneas

*Myopia

*Black race

*Vaso-occlusive diseases

What do we recommend

*With risk factors OHT patients should be treated

*All people above age of 40 should be checked regularly, every year, by an eye doctor

*People with family history of glaucoma should be checked earlier

Why do we call Glaucoma “The Silent Thief of Sight??”

*Because high IOP causes a gradual damage to nerve and visual field WITHOUT pain, discomfort or loss of Central Vision

*The Damage is IRREVERSIBLE and can cause BLINDNESS

*So, there are no “alarming signs” in most cases, and many people are diagnosed too late

Symptoms of Primary OpenAngle Glaucoma

• POAG develops gradually and painlessly and has no initial symptoms

Vision is normal in the early stages

Symptoms of Primary OpenAngle Glaucoma

• If untreated, peripheral or side vision is slowly lost

Tunnel vision

• Eventually, all vision may be lost

Symptoms of Primary OpenSymptoms of Primary OpenAngle GlaucomaAngle Glaucoma

Glaucoma Tests:Slit Lamp & Gonioscopy

• A special microscope called a slit lamp is used to examine the structures of the eye

• A gonioscopy lens may be used to view the drainage angle

Glaucoma Tests:Ophthalmoscopy

• Eye drops may be placed in the eyes to dilate the pupils• Special magnifying lenses are used to examine the retina

and optic nerve for damage

Normal Optic Nerve Suspicious Optic Nerve

Glaucoma Tests:Ophthalmoscopy

• Advances are being made in digital imaging of the retina

Glaucoma Tests:Tonometry

• Eye pressure is measured with an instrument called a tonometer

• Three types that are commonly used are:– Goldmann (Perkins)– Non-contact (air puff)

Glaucoma Tests:Visual Field Test

• Peripheral (side) vision is tested with a perimeter

The patient responds to flashes of light in different locations

Recent Developments

• Recent studies have found that patients with thin corneas have a greater risk of developing glaucoma

• Measurement of corneal thickness using an instrument called a pachymeter will become increasingly important

Recent Developments

• Laser technology can now be used to image the retina and optic nerve and measure nerve fiber layer thickness

End Stage Glaucoma – Severely damaged nerve with Tubular vision

So, How can we treat Glaucoma when Diagnosis is made??

Treatment is aimed at lowering IOP to Normal Level

*A variety of drugs (drops, pills)

*Laser Treatment – Safe and Easy

*Surgery – Filters, Valves, Shunts

Glaucoma Medications

• Medications are usually the first type of treatment used

• Eyedrops or pills are used to either decrease the fluid production or to increase the fluid drainage

What is new in Glaucoma Therapy?

*New medications

*New laser Treatments (SLT – The “Homeopatic Laser”)

*New surgical methods – Drainage implants, Gold Shunts

SLT-New Laser TreatmentSpot size comparison:

50µm

ALTSLT

ALTSLT

50 micronSPOT SIZE400 micron

500 – 1,000 mWENERGY OUTPUT0.8 – 1.5 mJ

10 msPULSE DURATION3 ns

60,000 mJ/cm2FLUENCE600 mJ/cm2

6Latina MA, Tumbocon JA. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: The Evolution of Laser Treatment for Open Angle Glaucoma

ALT SLT

SLT *The easiest and Safest Laser

*Very efficient in lowering IOP

*5 minutes procedure in office

*No pain, No complications

*Now offered as a primary treatment before Drugs

When Laser and Medications fail or non-sufficient..

Glaucoma Surgery is recommended..

*Trabeculectomy

*Drainage Devices

*Gold Shunt

Gold Shunt

A Miniature Shunt

Gold Shunt Implantation

Gold Shunt

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IOP

- m

mH

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GMS

GMS+

AGV

Pre- 1 week 1 month 3 6

Early Detection and Treatment

• Regular eye health examinations are important to detect glaucoma early so that treatment can be started and vision loss can be prevented

Thank You