Eye diseases threaten not only a deterioration in the quality of vision, but also its absolute loss. A regular examination of the vision system, carried out as part of preventive examinations, allows you to timely identify such a serious problem as angle-closure glaucoma, the symptoms and treatment of which are discussed below.
Happiness see the world around
Vision is a great gift to man through which he cognizes the world. As scientists have found out, about 90% of all information about the surrounding person receives precisely with the help of this system of sensations. The visual organ is a multicomponent structure. Even partial loss of vision causes a deterioration in the quality of life, because a person has to use corrective devices - glasses, contact lenses, or will replace the ability to see in another way of knowing the surrounding reality. In addition to the common myopia and farsightedness, a person can suffer from other visual impairments, one of which may be, for example, angle-closure glaucoma. What kind of disease is this, the patient should tell the specialist after diagnosis.
Features of the visual organ
The structure of the visual system is very complicated, because in order to perceive the surrounding reality through vision, many components must work harmoniously. The main ones are familiar to everyone from school biology and anatomy lessons. But, for example, only specialists and those who have encountered such a problem as angle-closure glaucoma know that the junction of the iris and the cornea forms the iris corneal angle. What kind of disease is it if its development depends on the physical quantity - the angle of connection of the two components of the eye structure? The iris-corneal angle is a kind of drainage component of the anterior chamber of the visual organ, and a violation of the outflow of fluid causes serious problems with vision and well-being in general.
Blurred vision
Such a problem as angle-closure glaucoma, whose symptoms cause a violation of the quality of life, occurs due to increased pressure as a result of accumulation of excess fluid in the eye. The name of the disease has a group of ophthalmic diseases, which are based on an increase in intraocular pressure. The very name of the problem comes from the Greek word, translated meaning "dull or cloudy tumor." And it is precisely clouding of the cornea that a specialist can observe when examining a patient. Glaucoma is the result of impaired visual function due to increased intraocular pressure.
Types of glaucoma in violation of fluid outflow
Visual impairment due to an increase in intraocular pressure develops in people of different sexes, ages, and for various reasons. There are several diseases united by the name "glaucoma". But there are two main types of this problem: open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma. They differ from each other by the mechanism of fluid retention, or rather the geometry of the iris-corneal angle. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of disease - it is recorded in 90% of cases of visual impairment caused by increased intraocular pressure. The second type of disease, although it is less common, but its consequence more often becomes complete blindness. Acute angle-closure glaucoma requires prompt medical attention to maintain the optic nerve.
Features of the problem reflected in the title
The fluid, which plays an important role in the vision system, must constantly circulate - secreted by certain glands and removed by natural means. But when the geometry of the iris-ciliary edge system is violated, the outflow of fluid stops, it accumulates in the anterior chamber of the eye, which causes an increase in intraocular pressure. The result of this process is called angle-closure glaucoma. This problem occurs in 10% of patients who are diagnosed with glaucoma. It is manifested by severe painful sensations - a headache, eyes hurt, eyesight is impaired, the patient develops nausea and vomiting. But such symptomatology is not strictly specific, and therefore only a competent specialist can differentiate the pathology and diagnose angle-closure glaucoma. What is this problem if its manifestations are not strictly specific, although violations occur in the vision system? The fluid retention that occurred as a result of the complete closure of the angle of the anterior chamber through which the secretion flows out causes an increase in pressure and an optic nerve disorder in turn. An acute attack of such a disease requires immediate treatment, otherwise it can result in significant visual impairment and complete blindness.
Consequence
The causes of angle-closure glaucoma are established by specialists as they observe cases of the disease, assess the patient's history. Diseases contribute to both physiological causes and external factors. The first can include such structural features of the vision system as:
- pupil block - the lens of the eye is adjacent to the posterior surface of the iris, while the angle of the anterior chamber is closed, which blocks the mechanism of evacuation of intraocular fluid.
- flat iris syndrome, in this case, the moisture outflow system and the iris are extremely close to each other; with the expansion of the pupil, the peripheral part of the iris closes the angle of the anterior chamber and blocks the outflow of moisture;
- the structure of the eye has a feature in the form of a small iris-corneal angle, which is a prerequisite for the development of angle-closure glaucoma.
In some cases, the angle at which the ocular fluid outflow system is located narrows and even completely closes due to the growth of tumor-like formations that form behind the iris. Also, the following factors can play a role in the development of angle-closure glaucoma:
- hereditary structural features of the eye system;
- diabetes;
- frequent eye bruises;
- features of the development of the nervous system, manifested in nervous pathologies;
- chronic fatigue, affecting the functionality of the visual system;
- a chronic increase in intraocular pressure caused by aging factors of the body, which is why all people over 40 should undergo a regular examination by an ophthalmologist, including the measurement of intraocular pressure;
- physiological subtlety of the eye membrane;
- corticosteroid therapy;
- high blood pressure;
- increased body weight;
- pathology of the cardiovascular system.
All these causes have a pronounced effect on the development of the disease.
Signs of Glaucoma
Like most health problems, angle-closure glaucoma develops gradually, although it can be expressed in an acute form. At the initial stages, an increase in intraocular pressure due to the closure of the anterior corner of the visual camera does not manifest itself in any way. Then the patient begins to feel problems with both vision and general well-being: photophobia, rainbow circles in front of the eyes, blurring of the object of visual perception, decreased twilight vision, discomfort or pain in the eye area, or temporal headache. But such symptoms are also characteristic of many other health problems. Therefore, most often the diagnosis is accurately diagnosed as an attack of angle-closure glaucoma.
A sharp headache, localized in the eye area, and spreading to the temple, forehead, nausea and vomiting, visual impairment up to its complete loss - these are signs of an attack, which is based on a significant increase in intraocular pressure. Several such attacks - and commissures appear in the patient’s vision system, which violate the functionality of visual perception, and then complete blindness.
Let's go to the doctor!
Not always some symptoms in the form of a headache, nausea or vomiting force a person to see a doctor, especially an ophthalmologist. But if the patient has farsightedness, and the headache is most often localized in the orbit, in the temple, then measuring the intraocular pressure for the differentiation of glaucoma is simply necessary. In addition, all patients who are over 40 years old should undergo an annual examination by narrow specialists, including to check the state of the vision system.
Diagnostic Methods
Not so often, a specialist is diagnosed with angle-closure glaucoma. "What is this problem?" - ask those for whom increased intraocular pressure becomes a part of life. Violation of the functional of the visual system due to problems with the outflow of intraocular fluid is dangerous with a sudden complete loss of vision. To prevent the severe consequences of angle-closure glaucoma, it is necessary to undergo an initial examination by an ophthalmologist, in which intraocular pressure will be determined using special procedures. If the results are unsatisfactory, then the next step will be an examination of the fundus.
A specialist can measure intraocular pressure in several ways. For example, the Maklakov method involves applying to the cornea special pre-painted weights weighing 10 g. After the weights are removed from the patient’s eye, they are applied to the sheet of paper and the intraocular pressure is determined by the left trace, measured by a special ruler. This method assumes an intraocular pressure rate of up to 24 mm Hg. Art. This method is widespread, has high accuracy. It was he who was taken as the standard for observing the dynamics of the development of glaucoma in a patient.
The use of a pneumotonometer is the basis of the second method for measuring intraocular pressure. Pneumatic pressure is used here - with a stream of air it “shoots” into the eye, and the corneal deflection recorded by special equipment in response to the applied pressure is recorded and evaluated by a specialist - the greater the deflection, the higher the intraocular pressure. The results of this measurement are not very accurate and are usually underestimated by an average of 2 mm. Hg. Art.
This technique is not used in a dynamic study of the course of the disease with established glaucoma. Special equipment is used for transpalpebral tonometry, when pressure is measured through the eyelid.
The method for measuring intraocular pressure is selected by a specialist taking into account the capabilities of a medical institution. If an increase in intraocular pressure is detected during the initial examination, the patient is invited to undergo further examination - examination of the fundus, in which the doctor will reveal the condition of the optic disc, hemorrhage or swollen foci along the edge of the optic disc, the thickness of the neuronal rim, and the presence of glaucoma excavation. Then gonioscopy is performed - measuring the angle of the anterior chamber using a microscope with a slit screen and a three-mirror Goldman lens. Also, the patient is measured visual fields using computer polymetry.
Problem forms
Among the problems of the ophthalmic direction, an extensive group of diseases united under one name stands out. Among them, only 20-22% of cases are diagnosed with angle-closure glaucoma. Symptoms of this disease require differentiation with other vision problems that have similar painful symptoms, as well as a thorough examination by an ophthalmologist. This type of visual impairment is divided by experts into two main types:
- primary angle-closure glaucoma;
- and, accordingly, secondary.
In the first case, the problem is formed on its own, is not associated with other systemic diseases. The angle of the anterior chamber of the eye decreases and closes due to structural features of the vision system, the formation of tumors that disrupt fluid outflow. With secondary angle-closure glaucoma, violations of the physical parameters of the eye chamber and outflow of fluid from it are the result of trauma or diabetes mellitus.
Treatment methods
Any disease should be diagnosed, a treatment strategy is selected by a specialist taking into account the particular health of the patient. The stages of the disease determine the principles of treatment. Thus, an acute attack of angle-closure glaucoma requires emergency medical intervention because of the potential danger of catastrophic damage to the vision system, which threatens complete blindness.
Today ophthalmology operates with three treatment methods:
- drug treatment;
- laser correction of the vision system;
- fistulizing operation.
Qualitative treatment of glaucoma is carried out at the same stages: drugs, laser correction, surgery. The goal of therapy is to lower intraocular pressure with medication and prevent glaucoma from progressing aggressively. If glaucoma continues to develop actively, then the patient will have to undergo a laser intervention, and then a fistulizing operation.
Pharmacy preparations
One of the very serious visual problems is angle-closure glaucoma. Drops are the most common form of medication used in the medical treatment of this disease, although injections and oral medications are also used. Medicines have one goal - to lower the pressure inside the eye. The following medicinal substances can act as an active component in them:
- latanoprost;
- pilocarpine;
- timolol;
- hinapril.
These substances are used both as independent active components of drugs and in combinations. What kind of medicine the patient needs is decided only by the attending physician. Using drugs to combat angle-closure glaucoma without the recommendation of a specialist is strictly prohibited!
Traditional medicine to help vision
An acute attack of angle-closure glaucoma in any case requires immediate medical attention. All medicinal methods and preparations should be recommended by a specialist, taking into account the characteristics of the disease of a particular patient. It should be remembered that it is not possible to cure an existing ophthalmic problem only with drugs or using traditional medicine recipes.
Is problem prevention possible?
Like any other disease, glaucoma is easier to prevent than to treat. Prevention measures are aimed at maintaining the adequate functioning of the human vision system. It is impossible to prevent glaucoma, but treating it while maintaining vision at a sufficient level is possible only if the correct diagnosis is made at an early stage of the disease. That is why it is so important to visit an ophthalmologist once a year, and after reaching the age of 40 years, annual intraocular pressure measurement. Various ametropias require vision correction with the help of correctly selected glasses or contact lenses. This will help reduce eye strain and eliminate overwork. It is also necessary to eat properly so that all the vitamins necessary for a person, micro and macro elements, enter the body.
Such a pathology of vision as angle-closure glaucoma, the causes and symptoms of which were discussed above, can affect a person at any age. But only in the early stages of the disease, high-quality specialist help will help maintain vision. If time is lost, then the disease can lead to complete loss of vision. Responsibility for the state of one’s health should become the norm of every person’s life, because a timely identified problem will make it possible to apply adequate measures to get rid of it.