Glaucoma: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Glaucoma is a chronic eye condition characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), optic nerve damage, and progressive vision loss. It is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. The insidious nature of glaucoma lies in the fact that early stages are often symptom-free, making regular ophthalmological check-ups critically important.

Open-angle glaucoma (the most common form) develops slowly and silently. Symptoms appear only in later stages, when optic nerve damage is already significant:

• Gradual narrowing of visual field (tunnel vision)
• Foggy or 'curtained' vision
• Seeing halos around light sources
• Headaches in the temples or around the eye socket
• Reduced visual acuity, especially in low light

An acute angle-closure glaucoma attack develops suddenly: sharp eye pain, nausea, vomiting, severe vision loss, and eye redness. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate care.

To diagnose glaucoma, an ophthalmologist performs a comprehensive examination:

• Tonometry — measuring intraocular pressure
• Perimetry — visual field testing
• Ophthalmoscopy — examination of the optic disc
• Gonioscopy — examination of the anterior chamber angle
• OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) — assessment of the optic nerve and retina
• Pachymetry — corneal thickness measurement

• Age over 60 (risk increases with each year)
• Family history: glaucoma in parents or close relatives
• Elevated intraocular pressure (ocular hypertension)
• Myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease
• Long-term use of corticosteroid medications

Glaucoma cannot be fully cured, but its progression can be significantly slowed. The goal of treatment is to lower intraocular pressure and preserve remaining vision. Treatment methods include:

• Eye drops (anti-glaucoma medications) — first-line treatment to reduce IOP
• Laser treatment (selective laser trabeculoplasty, iridotomy) — improving aqueous humor outflow
• Surgery (trabeculectomy, etc.) — when conservative therapy is insufficient

Iryna Hetman diagnoses and treats glaucoma at Kyiv City Clinical Hospital #4. Book a consultation if you are over 40 and have never had your intraocular pressure checked, or if you have any risk factors.

Article Author

Iryna Hetman

Ophthalmologist, Cataract Surgeon · Kyiv Hospital #4

• 200+ successful surgeries
• Member of ESCRS and USCRS