Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve and, if left undetected and untreated, can lead to blindness. Elevated eye pressure is an important risk factor. However, many affected individuals (30%) develop glaucoma without elevated eye pressure being measured. In such cases, it is referred to as normal-tension glaucoma.
For early detection of glaucoma, it is therefore not enough to simply rule out elevated eye pressure. The health of the optic nerves must always be assessed at the same time so that changes can be detected early.
For early diagnosis of glaucoma, it is therefore not sufficient to rule out only elevated eye pressure. The condition of the optic nerves must always be evaluated to identify changes at an early stage.
If abnormalities are found in the optic nerves, optical coherence tomography (OCT) can help us better assess their health. By measuring the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFLT), we can estimate whether damage to the optic nerve fibers has likely already occurred.
During a so-called baseline examination, we can determine the nerve fiber layer thickness of a patient’s healthy optic nerves. If the examination is repeated at a later time, it can be determined with high accuracy whether any loss of retinal nerve fibers has occurred.
Treatment for glaucoma typically involves eye drops, laser therapy, or surgical procedures to lower intraocular pressure and protect the optic nerve.