Glaucoma Treatment in Mannheim

When the Field of Vision Narrows: Glaucoma

Glaucoma involves damage to the optic nerve. Damage to the nerve fibers in the eye due to glaucoma can lead to peripheral vision loss (known as visual field defects). This means that increasingly larger, subjectively imperceptible gaps occur in the visual field, resulting in progressively restricted perception (e.g., in daily life or while driving). Untreated and in advanced stages, glaucoma can even lead to blindness.

What causes Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is most often caused by increased intraocular pressure, but it can also occur with normal or low intraocular pressure. Glaucoma is categorized into different forms, each with different causes:

• Open-angle glaucoma: Slow damage to the optic nerve with an open anterior chamber angle (most common form of glaucoma)
• Angle-closure glaucoma: Sudden, rapid increase in intraocular pressure with a narrow anterior chamber angle (e.g., in acute glaucoma attack)
• Normal-tension glaucoma: Optic nerve damage with normal intraocular pressure
• Neovascular glaucoma: Increased intraocular pressure due to excessive blood vessel formation in the anterior chamber and iris
• Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma: Vision damage due to protein deposits in the anterior chamber
• Pigment dispersion glaucoma: Vision damage due to shedding of pigment cells on the iris, obstructing aqueous outflow

Unfortunately, you often cannot actively reduce the risk of glaucoma through targeted measures. Regular eye examinations in our Mannheim practice are necessary.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Symptoms of glaucoma include:

• Peripheral vision loss which i soften not perceived
• Elevated intraocular pressure is often not perceived
• Pain or pressure sensation in the eye during an acute glaucoma attack
• Headaches and visual disturbances during a glaucoma attack
• Nausea and vomiting during a glaucoma attack

For optimal treatment, it is important to react promptly in case of a positive family history or the appearance of glaucoma symptoms. A preventive eye check-up should be done immediately. However, the disease is usually asymptomatic in the early stages. Diagnosis often occurs when (often arcuate) visual field defects are already present. If you notice vision loss, eye pressure, or experience headaches and nausea in connection with eye discomfort, you should promptly visit our ophthalmology practice.

Important: An acute glaucoma attack requires immediate treatment by a doctor and should be addressed immediately by an ophthalmologist! An acute glaucoma attack often occurs in conjunction with angle-closure glaucoma and is characterized by severe eye pain, a red eye, and blurred vision.

Let us treat your glaucoma at our Mannheim practice and easily schedule an appointment through our online booking system:

Glaucoma: Treatment in Mannheim

Although glaucoma develops gradually, it is still highly treatable even in advanced stages. The suitable treatment method for glaucoma depends on the type and stage of the condition. Some of the most common treatment methods include eye drops, laser treatments, or surgical procedures. We will determine the appropriate treatment method for you to restore seamless vision. Our practice is equipped with state-of-the-art Zeiss Glaucoma Forum technology to support this.

Here’s how glaucoma treatment works:

• 1.After filling out a medical history form, you undergo a vision test.
• 2.We conduct a visual field examination.
• 3.Using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), we examine the optic nerve head (papilla) and the anterior segment of the eye for signs of glaucoma.
• 4.With our Goldmann applanation tonometer, we can precisely measure intraocular pressure (Gold standard measurement not with air-puff technique).
• 5.With dilated pupils, we carefully examine your eyes using a slit lamp and check the fundus background an conduct a fundus photography of the optic nerve head.
• 6.Upon diagnosing glaucoma, we discuss the appropriate treatment method for you.

This comprehensive examination allows us to accurately assess your eyes and initiate glaucoma treatment in a timely manner. Depending on the existing symptoms, we may conduct additional tests to rule out other conditions. Subsequently, we determine the best treatment method for you. For existing glaucoma, we conduct regular follow-up examinations with our Zeiss Glaucoma Forum module to stabilize the condition.

Do you have questions about glaucoma treatment methods? In a detailed conversation, we will discuss the options for treating glaucoma with you.

Preventive Examinations für Glaucoma for Early Detection

Early detection of glaucoma can prevent irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Therefore, starting from the age of 40, you should regularly undergo eye screening examinations. During the preventive appointments, as we offer them at our practice in Mannheim, we conduct measurements of intraocular pressure and examine the optic nerve properly. This way, we can identify glaucoma before significant visual field limitations occur.
An early diagnosis enables targeted treatment, whether it’s through medication with eye drops, laser treatment, or surgical intervention. For preventive purposes, it’s best to have your eyes examined regularly by us!

Applanation intraocular pressure measurement by the ophthalmologist using the slit lamp after fluorescein/ anaesthetic application

Corneal thickness map (pachymetry) and corneal epithelial thickness map with color coding

Optic nerve head (papilla) OCT representation and measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness to evaluate the presence of glaucomatous disease (glaucoma)

Example representation of a visual field analysis and optic nerve head OCT (combined representation of structure and function)

 

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