Glaucoma Eye Specialist

What causes high levels of eye pressure?

Fluid circulating in the eye is produced and drained at a balanced rate. If drainage becomes blocked, the eye pressure rises.  This increased eye pressure can cause ongoing damage to the optic nerve leading to vision loss and blindness seen in glaucoma.

Detecting glaucoma early?

If detected early, glaucoma can be treated by lowering the eye pressure. This slows down or halts the progression of the disease. However, if detected too late, damage to the optic nerve from glaucoma cannot be undone.

The earlier glaucoma is detected and treated, the more vision can be preserved; ideally treatment begins before the disease causes the symptoms of reduced vision.

Dr Skalicky is a highly regarded glaucoma specialist dedicated to his patients, students, ongoing glaucoma research and organisations that fight glaucoma locally and internationally. He firmly believes that with early detection, persistent monitoring and the right treatment approach, glaucoma can be halted in its tracks.

How do I know if I have glaucoma?

Glaucoma can be difficult to detect. Mostly it progresses slowly and affects peripheral vision first. This often goes unnoticed. More so, we are generally unaware of our eye pressure. This is why glaucoma usually remains undetected until the late stages of the disease. Therefore, If you are older than 40 years or have a family history of glaucoma you should be screened to determine if you require glaucoma treatment.

Glaucoma Treatment Options

Depending on the cause and severity of your condition, there are a few options for glaucoma treatment. Your glaucoma eye specialist will determine the right treatment option for your situation. 

Treatment by lowering the pressure in your eyes has been shown to reduce or halt progression of glaucoma.

1. Gentle laser (SLT)

Glaucoma – what is it?

Glaucoma occurs when pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve connecting the eye to the brain. This can lead to permanent visual loss.

What are the early symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease in which damage to the optic nerve results in vision loss.

There are several forms of glaucoma; the two most common are primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and angle-closure glaucoma (ACG). Open-angle glaucoma is often called "the sneak thief of sight" as it has no symptoms until significant vision loss has occurred.

Symptoms of Open-Angle Glaucoma

Typically there are no early warning symptoms or signs of open-angle glaucoma. It develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years.

Most people with open-angle glaucoma feel fine and do not notice any change in their vision at first because the initial vision loss is of side or peripheral vision, and the sharpness of vision (visual acuity) is maintained until late in the disease.

By the time a patient is aware of loss of vision, the disease is generally quite advanced. Vision loss from glaucoma is not reversible with any treatment, including eye surgery.

Symptoms of Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

• Severe eye and head pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Hazy or blurred vision
• Halos around bright lights
• Sudden sight loss

In angle-closure glaucoma (also known as narrow angle glaucoma), the angle is closed in many or most areas, causing raised eye pressure that leads to optic nerve damage and vision loss. This rise in eye pressure may occur gradually or suddenly (an acute attack of angle closure). When angle-closure glaucoma occurs gradually it does not cause any noticeable symptoms until it is advanced, like open-angle glaucoma. There are also early stages of the disease in which the angle is closed but the eye pressure may or may not be raised and the optic nerve is not yet affected.

Is there anything I can do in my life to treat or prevent glaucoma?

A balanced, healthy diet with a variety of fresh fruit and green, leafy vegetables, and Omega-3 fatty acids (eg fish, some nuts) can be beneficial in glaucoma. Smoking and excessive drinking are harmful to the optic nerve and should be avoided. Yoga with head-down positions increases eye pressure and should be avoided.

The most important ways in which you can influence the progression of glaucoma is by:

1. Attending all follow up appointments;

2. Using your eye drops as directed; and

3. Encouraging your close relatives to be screened for glaucoma.