Innova Ocular - ICO Barcelona
Innova ocular
  • English
    • Español
    • Català
    • English
    • Française
    • Italiano
    • Ру́сский
    • العربية
  • Innova Ocular - ICO Barcelona
  • Diseases
    Diseases
    Pathological myopia or high myopia
    Chronic glaucoma
    Ocular Diabetes
    Diabetic retinopathy
    Dry Eye
    see all diseases
    Treatments
    5 good reasons for undergoing surgery to correct high myopia at ICO
    Glaucoma Surgical Treatment
    Cornea Transplant
    see all treatments
  • The Patient
    Patient Opinion
    FAQs - Frequently-Asked Questions
    Patient Services
    International patients
    The perfect patient
    Biodata - Excellence
    Preoperative care
    Postoperative care
  • Clinical units
    Crystalline Lens (Cataract) Unit
    Refractive Surgery Unit
    Vitreoretinal Unit
    Glaucoma Unit
    Cornea and Ocular Surface Unit
    Paediatric Ophthalmology Unit
    Oculoplastic, Orbital and Reconstructive Surgery Unit
    Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit
    Clinical Optometry Unit
    Ocular Trauma Unit
    Ocular Genetics Unit
    Uvea Unit
    Ocular Anaesthesiology Unit
    A&E Unit
    Psychological Counselling Service to Adjust to Sight Loss
  • Technology
    Trifocals Excimer Laser Autologous Serum - Endoret - PRGF
    Micro-incision Vitrectomy 23-gauge Molecular Genetics in Ophthalmology Phakic Intraocular Lenses - ICL
    Schirmer Test Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of the Optic Nerve
  • Medical staff
    Dr. David Andreu Dr. Carlos Arciniegas Dra. Ana Blázquez Dr. Jaume Crespí
    Dra. Carmen del Águila Dra. Shirin Djavanmardi Dra. Susana Duch Dr. Joaquim Fontanals
    Dra. Magela Garat Dra. Elena Millá Dr. Manuel Romera Dr. José Ignacio Vela
    Dra. Cristina Vendrell D.O.O. Carmen Aleson
  • Contact us
    How to find us Nearby hotels Make an appointment Contact us now Work with us
  • Club ICO
  • Online appointments
  • Online appointments
  • A&E 24h 365 days - CALL - 934 155 637
  • How to find us
  • Contact us
  • Diseases
  • Treatments
  • The Patient
  • Clinical units
  • Technology
  • Medical staff
  • Club ICO
  • Health insurance plan providers
  • Català
  • Español
  • Française
  • Italiano
  • Ру́сский
  • العربية
+34 608 493 788
ICOftalmologia > Diseases > Chronic glaucoma

Chronic glaucoma

The danger of losing visual field without being aware of such loss for a long time: the silent thief of sight.

What is chronic glaucoma?

Chronic glaucoma is a disease affecting the optic nerve (neuropathy), which is characterised by a progressive loss of visual field. This follows a characteristic pattern (generally loss of peripheral visual field) and has the objective sign of changes in the appearance of the optic nerve.

Do you know what causes it?

Despite being considered a multifactorial disease, brought on by multiple causes, the best known and so far only treatable cause is raised intraocular pressure; ocular hypertension.

What symptoms does it cause?

Chronic glaucoma does not cause perceptible symptoms at disease onset. As the disease advances, defects in visual field become more perceptible, slowly increasing until central vision is affected late in the disease. In parallel to loss of visual field or peripheral vision, once glaucoma has advanced, the patient finds light and dark adaptation difficult. This occurs when the patient suddenly moves from a dark place to a light place. With these changes in lighting, the glaucoma patient feels blinded for a few seconds.

Are some people more at risk of developing glaucoma?

The prevalence of glaucoma increases with age, and although it is important to check the intraocular pressure of all patients, it is especially important after the age of 45 years.

Glaucoma is a disease with a significant genetic contribution, and given that there are many cases with a family history of the disease, it is important to rule out glaucoma in all direct relatives of patients previously diagnosed with glaucoma. We often recommend genetic studies that can accurately determine the risk of family members developing the disease.

Glaucoma is especially aggressive in black patients and therefore screening in this ethnic group should be more exhaustive.

How is it treated?

Chronic glaucoma is initially treated medically, with the aim of treatment being to reduce intraocular pressure. Eye drops may allow satisfactory control of IOP and keep the disease under control for many years, but if the pressure is not controlled effectively, or if eye drops are not tolerated as a result of systemic or local side effects, we then use laser or surgical techniques to keep IOP at safe levels for each patient.

Can it be prevented?

Glaucoma is prevented by detecting high-risk cases. Keeping intraocular pressure at satisfactory levels helps prevent the disease from developing. It is therefore vitally important to determine which patients have ocular hypertension (raised intraocular pressure) since, left untreated, these patients would develop glaucoma in the future. These patients must be closely monitored and given preventive treatment on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Can it be serious?

Chronic glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Its detection, prevention and suitable treatment can slow down and even prevent progression to blindness in most cases.

FAQs

If I have glaucoma, is reading bad for me? I am always tired and my eyes itch after reading or working on the computer
I have glaucoma. How will I become aware of visual loss if the glaucoma gets worse?
How can I know that I have lost visual field (VF)?
Every time my eye pressure is taken I get a different result, even when done more than once on the same day. Which measurement should I believe?
Why is pachymetry done as part of the glaucoma evaluation?

Treatments

Glaucoma Surgical Treatment
Created: 17/10/2018 / Updated: 22/09/2015

Online appointments

Online appointments A&E 24 hours/day, 365 days/year - +34 934 155 637 Call us now on +34 608 493 788

Clinical units

  • Ocular Anaesthesiology Unit
  • Ocular Genetics Unit
  • Glaucoma Unit

Attending doctors

  • Dra. Susana Duch
  • Dra. Elena Millá
  • Dra. Shirin Djavanmardi
  • Dr. Carlos Arciniegas

Can we help you?

We will always be on the other side when you need us.

Contact us

Request information +34 608 493 788
info@icoftalmologia.es

Address

ICO·1
Via Augusta, 61
08006 Barcelona
Horario: 8:00h - 21:00h
ICO·1

ICO·2
Via Augusta, 48 2a pl
08006 Barcelona
Horario: 9:00h - 20:00h
ICO·2

Contact us now

Basic Information on Personal Data Protection: Data Controller: Instituto Condal de Oftalmología, S.L. and Gestión y Microcirurgía Ocular, S.A. Purpose and Legitimation: we contact you via digital means, express consent of the data subject. Data transfer: to provide our services and legal obligations. Rights: access, information, rectification, erasure, limitation, data portability, objection and the right not to be subject to automated decision-making, as stipulated in our Privacy Policy. For further information, please go to https://www.icoftalmologia.com/en/privacy-policy/.

Accredited health centre

Web Mèdica Acreditada. More information
UNE 179003 - Innova Ocular ICO Barcelona ISO 9001 - Innova Ocular ICO Barcelona ISO 14001 - Innova Ocular ICO Barcelona Generalitat de Catalunya - Departament de Salut Fundación IDIS GLOBAL SAFE SITE
Innova ocular
  • Make an appointment online
  • Health insurance plan providers
  • Services
    • 24-hour A&E
  • About us
    • ICO
    • History
    • CEM Clinic
    • VER Foundation
  • Sitemap
  • Legal notice
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy

© Institut Comtal d’Oftalmologia 2023

We respect your privacy!

We use our own cookies and third-party analytical cookies to analyse your browsing habits and offer you information regarding our content in line with your interests. You can access our Cookies Policy for more information. If you click “Accept”, we shall deem that you have been informed and accept cookies being installed and used. You can also change your settings or reject usage by clicking on “More information”.

Here you can configure your preferences and choose which cookies you allow to be installed on your device pressing "accept" or deny their installation pressing "reject" in each of them:

TECHNICAL COOKIES These cookies are necessary for the operation of the website and cannot be deactivated on our systems.
ANALYTICAL COOKIES
STATISTICAL COOKIES

For more information see our Cookies Policy