{"id":125102,"date":"2024-03-18T11:25:22","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T10:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miranza.es\/?p=125102"},"modified":"2024-03-21T14:35:04","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T13:35:04","slug":"almost-50-of-patients-with-glaucoma-are-undiagnosed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miranza.es\/en\/eye-wellness-blog\/almost-50-of-patients-with-glaucoma-are-undiagnosed\/","title":{"rendered":"Almost 50% of patients with glaucoma are undiagnosed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Glaucoma<\/a> progressively affects the optic nerve and it is often said to be a \u201csilent\u201d disease. This is the case because, as Dr Fernando L\u00f3pez<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>a specialist at Miranza Instituto G\u00f3mez-Ulla<\/strong>, explains, \u201cit shows no visual symptoms in its initial phases. In fact, almost half of those affected do not realise they are suffering from it. That is why early diagnosis of the disease<\/strong> with regular eye examinations is so important\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Glaucoma: beyond ocular hypertension <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Check-ups are also key to the early detection of glaucoma in people without ocular hypertension<\/strong> (its main risk factor). Along these lines, Dr L\u00f3pez<\/strong> explains that \u201cwe often come across patients who believe this disease is synonymous with high eye pressure. However, although it is quite rare, it is also possible to have normal eye pressure and glaucoma<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because this group of patients is more likely to suffer damage to the optic nerve<\/strong>, even if their eye pressure is normal.<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How does eye pressure affect eyesight? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In more common forms of glaucoma, with high eye pressure, the disease evolves progressively<\/strong>.\u201cThe eye becomes used to the situation and the patient has no pain or itchiness or any kind of discomfort\u201d, explains the specialist from Miranza Instituto G\u00f3mez-Ulla. However, there can also be a sudden increase in pressure and \u201cin these cases, they might feel pain in the eye or notice changes in their eyesight<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, the patient might find out that they have glaucoma \u201cduring an eye examination or when the disease has advanced so far that it has already affected their visual field and they cannot see as well as before<\/strong>\u201d.<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Can the visual damage be recovered? \u201cNo, with current treatments (eye drops, laser, and surgery)<\/strong> we can only maintain the level of vision at the time of the diagnosis\u201d, explains Dr L\u00f3pez<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Preventing irreversible damage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The expert from the Miranza<\/strong> clinic in Galicia points out that, as well as high eye pressure, attention should also be paid to other risk factors, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n