Screening & monitoring
Glaucoma slowly damages the optic nerve, most often without pain or early warning signs. Detected in time, it can be controlled effectively and durably. This is precisely why regular monitoring matters.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, the cable that transmits images from the eye to the brain. In most cases, excessively high intraocular pressure progressively damages the fibres of this nerve. The damage begins at the periphery of the visual field and advances slowly, without pain, which means the condition long remains invisible to the person affected.
Optic nerve damage is irreversible, but early screening and treatment allow the disease to be stabilised in the vast majority of cases, preserving vision.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness: what is lost cannot be recovered, but what remains can be protected. This is why screening is so important.
Two main forms are distinguished, very different in their presentation. Their management is not the same.
The most common form. Intraocular pressure rises slowly and the optic nerve is damaged over years, without pain or perceptible signs. Only screening can detect it in time.
Less common but a medical emergency: pressure rises suddenly, causing a red and painful eye, reduced vision, and sometimes nausea. Prompt consultation is essential.
A red, painful eye with a sudden drop in vision and headache warrants urgent consultation: it may be acute glaucoma.
Certain situations increase the risk of glaucoma and warrant closer monitoring:
In its chronic form, glaucoma is silent for a very long time:
The acute form, by contrast, manifests suddenly (red and painful eye, blurred vision).
Glaucoma screening is simple and painless. It relies on several complementary investigations, where Dr Gattoussi's expertise in ocular imaging is particularly valuable:
The aim of treatment is to lower intraocular pressure in order to halt progression. The choice depends on the form and severity.
Pressure measurement, OCT of the optic nerve, and visual field testing.
Most often eye drops; laser treatment or surgery depending on the situation.
Regular checks of pressure, optic nerve, and visual field.
Left untreated, it can lead to significant vision loss. Detected and treated in time, it can be controlled in the vast majority of cases.
Optic nerve damage already sustained cannot be repaired, but progression can be halted by lowering the pressure. It is a condition that is managed over the long term.
Screening is all the more advisable in the presence of risk factors (family history, high myopia, age over 40). The frequency is determined at consultation.
Often yes, and their regular use is essential to protect vision. Treatment is reassessed at every follow-up.
See also
Book an appointment
Ophthalmology practice in Paris 11th. Online appointments via Doctolib, at any time. Sector 2 fees.