Glaucoma without surgery. How to treat glaucoma without surgery - alternative and conservative therapy

glaucoma has the worst reputation among patients and doctors. Difficult to diagnose, it does not spare the elderly,. Occurs almost without symptoms and gradually leads to complete, irreversible blindness.

Today, when life expectancy has become much longer, the question is especially acute - can glaucoma be cured? After all, hundreds of thousands of people aged 40 and older around the world have already heard a terrible diagnosis from a doctor.

Is it curable or not?

Glaucomatous eye damage is a chronic process. Changes inside the eyeball are triggered: injuries, inflammation, or features of the anatomy of the eye. Most often, glaucoma occurs primarily - it is not preceded by other diseases. Just over the years internal structure eye changes so much that intraocular pressure begins to rise steadily. Is there a cure for glaucoma, and if so, how?

This process cannot be stopped or reversed. Therefore, do not delude yourself that after a course of medication, vision will return to normal. Yes, intraocular pressure will decrease, the eyes will become healthy - but only for the period of treatment.

That's why the use of drops and regular observation of the ophthalmologist are needed for life. It is difficult to come to terms with this, but in the future, instillation will become an everyday habit that will save clear vision!

REFERENCE! It is very easy to instill drops by simply pulling the lower eyelid down. A small recess is formed, medicine is placed in it.

Is it possible to get rid of without surgery?

Surgery has been, and remains, a particularly frightening method of therapy. Therefore, patients are wondering whether glaucoma is treated conservatively, without intervention. Fortunately, not everyone who suffers from glaucoma needs surgery. Most people manage to successfully control their vision with medication..

The most common is the treatment with drops to reduce pressure.. Today they are produced in several types, with different effects and indications. The selection of funds is carried out by an ophthalmologist, because each drug has side effects. If successful, the drops are used for a long time, for life. Then the negative impact of glaucoma on vision can be avoided.

The video below shows a fragment of the conference, where colleagues from leading Moscow clinics and research centers shared their experience in the field of glaucoma treatment with Belgorod specialists.

IMPORTANT! If the first medicine is ineffective, the doctor will add second drops to enhance the effect.

Surgery

In some patients, medications do not allow maintaining blood pressure at a normal level.. In this case, ophthalmologists recommend surgery to improve the outflow of fluid from the eyeball.

IN rare cases there is a painful form of glaucoma, when the affected eyeball is constantly very sore. Then the doctors perform the only possible operation - they remove the blind eye, and install a prosthesis in its place.

New cases of glaucoma are detected annually during preventive examinations. Previously, little attention was paid to her, so you can hear about old people blinded due to glaucoma. Today, with high intraocular pressure, which was detected in a timely manner, they live and work successfully. But timely diagnosis is essential. If you are over 40 years old, there are elderly blind relatives in your family, contact an ophthalmologist to measure your blood pressure!

Most often, glaucoma occurs in people over the age of forty. This insidious disease can lead to both partial and complete blindness. Treatment of glaucoma without surgery can be carried out with the help of drugs, as well as with the involvement of traditional medicine.

Non-surgical glaucoma can be treated with the following methods:

1. Change in diet. To reduce intraocular pressure, it is necessary to limit salt, alcoholic beverages, strong black tea, and coffee in your diet. Liquids can be drunk five to six glasses a day. Also, with glaucoma, refusal of cigarettes is shown.

2. The use of drugs. The ophthalmologist, as a rule, prescribes the following drugs to patients with glaucoma: Vinpocetine, Oftan, Pilocarpine, Humakarpin, Bapresan, Hemiton, Optimol, Oftensin, Catapresan, Chlofazolin, Timohexal, Timopress, Mannitol, Clonidine, Acetazolamide, Okuril, Okukap, Okumed, Okumol, Glaumol , Glukomol and others.

3. The use of traditional medicine. With glaucoma, it is useful to drink a special drink made from mummy. In one glass of water, you need to dissolve only 0.2 grams of mummy. The prepared medicinal potion is drunk twice a day and strictly on an empty stomach. The duration of glaucoma treatment with mummy is twenty days. In addition to mummy, this disease can also be treated with the help of medicinal herbs. First you need to prepare a dry mixture of two parts of dried hawthorn, one part of the herb of the small periwinkle, one part of the herb of horsetail and the same amount of mistletoe and common yarrow. Then one tablespoon of the mixed finished mixture is poured into a glass of boiling water and heated for about fifteen minutes. It is necessary to warm the remedy only in a water bath. Herbal decoction is infused for at least half an hour. The finished product is taken about half a cup several times a day. This decoction helps to reduce the increased intraocular pressure in glaucoma.

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Can glaucoma be cured without surgery?

Approximately 20% of cases of blindness observed in Russia are due to glaucoma. Every year, this disease affects about one person in a thousand. If left untreated, glaucoma is one hundred percent likely to end in blindness of the eye. In addition, it must be remembered that this disease is incurable and in order not to go blind, therapeutic measures must be carried out for life.

What is glaucoma?

The term "glaucoma" combines a whole group of diseases that have similar symptoms:

Increased pressure inside the eye;
Reduction of fields of vision;
Death (atrophy) of the optic nerve.

Our eye is designed in such a way that fluid constantly circulates inside it. It is produced by certain structures, and then, having fulfilled its function, it is removed into the circulatory system through a special drainage network.

Glaucoma occurs when changes occurring in the cornea (its hardening) begin to prevent the outflow of this fluid, or an obstruction is created in its outflow in the drainage system, which causes the accumulation of fluid in the eye. Excess fluid stimulates growth eye pressure is the main symptom of glaucoma.

An increase in pressure inside the eye has a very negative effect on the intraocular structures, which leads to a narrowing of the field of vision. This is a condition where the radius of vision becomes much narrower and more limited.

Constant pressure on the optic nerve leads to atrophy of its fibers and their gradual death. This process is irreversible and in 100% of cases leads to blindness.

This disease is often hereditary, and in parents with glaucoma, children, as a rule, will also get it sooner or later. Glaucoma usually appears after the age of 40, but is sometimes diagnosed at a young age and in children.

The main symptom of the onset of the disease can be pain in the eye and temporal region, as well as a narrowing of the field of view.

In order not to miss the onset of this insidious disease, people over the age of 40 are recommended to undergo a complete ophthalmological examination annually with mandatory IOP control. After all, only timely treatment can slow down the progression of the disease and preserve vision.

Acute glaucoma

Acute glaucoma is a sudden emergency that can result in permanent blindness. In addition to unbearable pain in the eye, as well as adjacent areas of the forehead and temple, an acute attack may be accompanied by vomiting and nausea. With an incorrect diagnosis, a patient with such signs can be treated for migraine and other ailments. Although at this moment the count goes literally for minutes and the lack of measures aimed at reducing intraocular pressure can cause irreversible death of the optic nerve.

The hallmarks of acute glaucoma are:

Hyperemia of the eyeball;
Irregular shape, wide pupil;
A sharp decrease in visual acuity;
Pain in the eye, temple, forehead.

Treatment for glaucoma

The disease has been studied for a long time and well. Following the recommendations of a doctor who monitors the course of glaucoma, there is every chance of correcting this disease. True, it is necessary to remember the chronic course of the disease, the need to constantly carry out maintenance therapy, and even the possibility of performing operations.

Currently, the treatment of glaucoma is carried out in two directions:

Conservative therapy without surgery.
Surgery laser and/or traditional method.

Conservative treatment of glaucoma

A complete examination on suspicion of glaucoma, the ophthalmologist prescribes when IOP is detected 27 - 28 mm Hg. Art. This disease is very important to diagnose in a timely manner and start treatment as soon as possible. In this case, the chances of treating glaucoma without surgery are greatly increased.

The treatment of glaucoma takes place in several stages.

The first stage is the reduction of IOP through the use of drops, foams, ointments. Water-based solutions must be instilled 3-4 times daily, more modern drugs make a day 2 - 3 times. Particularly effective eye drops based active substance timolol maleate.
The second stage of therapy is the stimulation of cerebral circulation by taking special drugs.
The third stage is the intake of vitamin-mineral complexes for a general improvement in the state of the body.

Various physiotherapy procedures can also be prescribed: exposure to currents of different frequencies, as well as a magnetic field. The procedures are absolutely harmless to the body, but very effective for glaucoma.

Operations for glaucoma

In advanced cases of glaucoma, it is often impossible to avoid surgery. It is carried out with the use of local anesthesia, an operating microscope, as well as special micro-instruments. Such a surgical intervention, like any operation, is fraught with complications. And yet the risk of these complications is not great, since these operations have become classic and routine. Their technique has long been worked out and completely perfected, because the first anti-glaucoma operation was performed more than 150 years ago.

Operations are carried out urgently if an attack of acute glaucoma cannot be stopped and planned, when conservative treatment does not give positive dynamics. As practice shows, refusal to perform the operation leads to inevitable loss of vision.
Indications for surgical intervention, ophthalmologists consider:

Stable high IOP, despite ongoing treatment.
Decreased field of view.
Negative dynamics in the course of the disease.

Glaucoma surgery includes laser treatment and classical surgery.

The goal of antiglaucoma surgery is to restore the outflow tract intraocular fluid or creating new ones. At the same time, the operation is considered successful if the IOP remains normal after the operation for a year. Often, patients require repeated surgical interventions, which are prescribed after about 3-4 years.

Complications of glaucoma surgery

When fistulizing operations are performed in middle-aged and young patients, in 10–25% of cases, growths of scar tissue and closure of the operation of outflows can be observed. Repeated operations, in this case, are ineffective.

An overgrown filter pad can create a noticeable cosmetic defect and cause discomfort in the eye, increasing the risk of inflammatory processes.

Surgically created channels of fluid outflow may work less efficiently than natural ones and years later, again lead to fluid stagnation with an increase in IOP.

Perhaps the manifestation of a "hypereffect" - the outflow of fluid significantly exceeds its production and IOP decreases, which causes negative consequences.

Anti-glaucoma surgery can cause clouding of the lens and cataracts.

At the same time, much depends on the professionalism of the surgeon, but no less depends on the patient, in terms of the implementation of the doctor's recommendations.

Laser treatment of glaucoma

Laser treatment of glaucoma is carried out using various types of lasers - argon continuous radiation, pulsed neodymium, diode infrared, etc.

It is customary to distinguish the following types of treatment:

Laser iridectomy. With it, a small hole is formed in the peripheral part of the iris, due to which the pressure in the chambers of the eye is equalized, the angle of the anterior chamber opens.
Laser trabeculoplasty. During it, a series of coagulations is applied along the inner surface of the trabecular diaphragm, which reduces the pressure difference in eye chambers and increases the permeability of the diaphragm to intraocular moisture.
Other operations leading to a decrease in IOP and improvement of vision.

Microsurgical operations

There is enough a large number of technique of anti-glaucoma operations, which are divided into 4 groups.

Improving the circulation of intraocular fluid (iridectomy and iridocycloretraction).
Fistulizing with the creation of new outflow tracts (trabeculectomy).
Non-penetrating fistulizing (subscleral sinusotomy, trabeculospasis).
Cyclodestructive operations, with damage to the ciliary muscle and a decrease in the production of intraocular fluid (cyclodestruction).

After the operation, the patient is recommended bed rest (1-2 days). An aseptic bandage is applied to the eye. Fluid intake is limited (up to a liter per day), a ban is imposed on the use of strong tea, coffee and alcohol-containing drinks, caffeine preparations and belladonna.

In addition, it is necessary to regulate the work of the intestines and sleep more. Avoid prolonged exposure to darkness. Visual work is allowed, including reading.

Lens replacement

The need for lens replacement arises when secondary glaucoma becomes one of the complications of cataracts. In this case, the enlarged cloudy lens that interferes with the outflow of fluid must be removed. Microsurgery is performed with implantation of an intraocular lens. It is performed under local anesthesia after a comprehensive ophthalmological examination and selection of the lens itself.

The operation takes about 15 minutes, during which the surgeon removes the lens through a micro-incision of 1.6 mm, leaving a natural “pouch” capsule, in which a folded lens is placed, which straightens itself inside the eye. The incision closes spontaneously without a suture by pressure inside the eye. The film from the "pouch" protects the lens and prevents its rejection by the body.

On the day of the operation, the patient is allowed to watch TV, read and even work. Of the restrictions: lifting weights and visiting saunas and baths.

Hardware treatment of glaucoma

If glaucoma has already occurred, it is necessary to take the disease seriously. Timely and systematically continued treatment often leads to the “burning out” of glaucoma, when its symptoms, primarily an increase in IOP, disappear, and treatment is stopped.

Patients with glaucoma need to instill drops every day, measure eye pressure once a month, and also be examined by an ophthalmologist twice a year. It is better to prepare internally for the operation and, no matter what, consistently take measures to prevent the onset of irreversible consequences.

For these purposes, the Vizulon physiotherapeutic medical device, designed for use at home, will come in handy. As an impact, "Vizulon" implements the method of visual color therapy - a variant of the most effective eye healing with the help of artificial light pulses.

Pulse color stimulation, serve as an excellent prevention of some eye pathologies and increased intraocular pressure, including. "Vizulon" is literally indispensable, as a means of improving microcirculation in the tissues and vessels of the organ of vision, with the onset of dystrophy processes, which are caused by age-related changes and systemic diseases.

The Vizulon device can be used both independently and in complex therapy with recommended medications. Even a single application of it brings tangible relief to the eyes, and long-term use of Vizulon guarantees a lasting long-term effect.

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Can glaucoma be completely cured?

Whether it is possible to cure glaucoma, the patient can find out on examination by a doctor. In some cases, the disease is completely curable. It all depends on the stage of glaucoma and the degree of damage to the eye. In most cases, the disease develops asymptomatically, especially at the initial stage. But the eye is damaged due to increased pressure inside it. This leads to atrophy of the optic nerves, which sharply impairs vision. If the disease is not treated, then a person can become completely blind.

Stages of disease development

In order to understand whether glaucoma of the eye is treated, you need to know how it develops. There are 4 main stages of the disease:

The initial stage of development of glaucoma. The changes are minor, the pressure in the eye rises periodically.
Stage 2 of the development of the disease brings a sharp narrowing of the border of the field of view.
At stage 3, an even greater narrowing of the visual field occurs, or only some areas with normal vision remain in the patient.
The last stage of the development of the disease is called terminal. The patient retains only the sensation of light and dark, object vision is lost. In many cases, total blindness develops.

The process of narrowing the boundaries of the field of view most often occurs on the nasal side. The amplitude of pressure fluctuations inside the eye healthy person usually no more than 5 mm Hg. Art. in 24 hours, and with glaucoma, this figure increases significantly. The first sign of the disease is an increase in pressure to 25-28 mm Hg. Art. throughout the day. At the first suspicion of glaucoma, a person should consult a doctor.

Most cases of glaucoma (78-82%) have the so-called open-angle form, when the disease develops over several years without any symptoms. Such glaucoma is found in the later stages of development. It is very difficult to achieve stabilization of the patient's position with vision in this case. This is especially difficult to do with a decompensated type of illness, when an acute attack of the disease begins.

What methods are used to treat the disease?

If there is a suspicion that the patient has glaucoma, the stage of development of the disease is determined during the examination. How to cure the patient, the doctor decides on the basis of the diagnostic data obtained. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is possible to treat glaucoma without surgery. This is done by the so-called conservative method. Therapy is carried out with the help of special eye drops, which lower the pressure inside the eye, improve the outflow of fluid passing through the organ, or reduce its secretion. Medicines such as Pilocarpine hydrochloride, Glaucon, Xatalan, Clonidine, Timolol, Arutimol, Azopt, etc. are used.

At the initial stage, the use of eye drops gives good results. But it must be taken into account that when the patient stops using these drugs, glaucoma returns again.

Therefore, conservative methods of dealing with the disease do not allow you to get rid of it. The effectiveness of the use of medicines depends on the form of the disease itself. A positive effect of treatment is possible only with an open-angle type of disease, when there are still no changes in the structures of the eye. If the patient is diagnosed with angle-closure glaucoma, then the drugs are practically useless.

To eliminate these problems, surgical methods of treatment are used. With their help, angle-closure glaucoma is curable both at the initial stage of the disease and at later stages. The effectiveness of this method is associated with the ability to eliminate negative structural changes in the tissues of the eye, which provoke a sharp increase in pressure inside the eye. The operation helps to stabilize the secretion and outflow of eye fluid, and if necessary, surgeons create new ways for this fluid to move out of the eyes. But a surgical operation does not guarantee a 100% cure, since relapses of the disease are possible.

Surgical methods of dealing with the disease

Surgery is carried out in several ways. Most often, in order to cure patients with glaucoma, doctors at the present stage of development of medicine use laser surgery. This method has the following advantages:

There is a normalization of secretion and outflow of fluid passing inside the eye.
The period of rehabilitation of the patient is sharply reduced.
The patient has almost no complications after the operation.

But laser cannot help with 100% guarantee. The described method also has its drawbacks:

Laser surgery is effective on initial stages illness.
Over time, a person who has undergone such an operation, vision gradually deteriorates.
When carrying out such treatment, there is a high risk of damage to the cornea, lens or iris.
Another possible negative option is a sharp increase in pressure inside the patient's eye after surgery. This leads to inflammation.

What to choose for a patient with glaucoma: eye drops or surgery?

It is completely impossible to cure the disease by any of the currently existing methods of treating this disease. If the initial stage of glaucoma is diagnosed, then medical or surgical treatment gives positive results.

The use of one or another method of treatment depends on the form of the disease. With an open-angle type, eye drops prevent visual impairment with regular use of the drug. At the same time, the medicines guarantee the normal quality of life of the patient, since he can use the drops both at home and at work. But it is impossible to defeat the disease with this method - the patient will have to use drugs for the rest of his life.

The operation is recommended in the case when the patient may lose sight. The results of surgical intervention allow the patient to forget about glaucoma for several years. In this case, a person will practically not need drops after the operation.

But you need to know that the new ducts for the fluid inside the eye formed by a scalpel or a laser beam narrow or can become overgrown 4-5 years after the operation. This leads to a relapse of the disease.

In this case, a new operation is required. Thus, none of the currently existing methods of treating the disease leads to a complete cure for the patient. They only facilitate his position, do not allow glaucoma to develop.

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Glaucoma

Eye glaucoma treatment

Glaucoma is one of the most formidable diseases of the eye, leading to loss of vision. According to available data, glaucoma affects about 3% of the population, and in 15% of blind people worldwide, glaucoma has caused blindness.

At risk for the development of glaucoma are people over 40 years old, but in ophthalmology there are such forms of the disease as juvenile and congenital glaucoma. The frequency of the disease increases significantly with age: for example, congenital glaucoma is diagnosed in 1 out of 10-20 thousand newborns; in the group of 40-45-year-old people - in 0.1% of cases; in 50-60-year-olds - in 1.5% of observations; after 75 years - in more than 3% of cases.

Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that occurs with a periodic or constant increase in IOP (intraocular pressure), disorders of the outflow of intraocular fluid (intraocular fluid), trophic disorders in the retina and optic nerve, which is accompanied by the development of visual field defects and marginal excavation of the OD (optic nerve head). The concept of "glaucoma" today combines about 60 different diseases with the listed features.

The following are the treatments for glaucoma:

Implantation of the EX-PRESS device

This surgical technique has become a new word in the treatment of patients with glaucoma. Novy Zir medical centers were among the first in Ukraine to introduce this innovative technology. Now, regardless of the severity and neglect of the disease, Ukrainian patients have access to fast and effective treatment glaucoma and intraocular pressure compensation even in the most difficult cases.

The device is made of high-tech alloy steel and is placed inside the eye with a high degree fixation. The EX-PRESS device implantation procedure is recognized worldwide as less traumatic and more effective than the traditional NPDS (non-penetrating deep sclerectomy).

This is a laser technique aimed at the treatment of angle-closure glaucoma. During an iridectomy, a tiny laser hole is made in the iris of the eye to create an additional outflow of intraocular fluid. Perform iridectomy on an outpatient basis.

Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS)

This is a surgical operation of a non-penetrating type - without opening the eyeball. During this procedure, not a through hole is used, but a special valve is created in the outer shell of the eye - the sclera, through which an unhindered outflow of intraocular fluid is possible. This allows you to restore the balance of fluid in the eye and normalize pressure. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis and does not provoke the development of cataracts. The period of rehabilitation of patients after NGSE is several days.

A very popular operation in Europe and the USA at present, aimed at stabilizing vision in glaucoma. Refers to surgical operations of a non-penetrating type. Its goal is to restore the physiological pathways of fluid outflow by creating a special "window" in the sclera.

Its main difference from NGSE is that to restore the outflow of fluid, a special viscous substance, Gealon (Artivisk), is introduced into the drainage tubules. By expanding the lumen of the drainage tubules, Gealon restores the permeability of moisture and allows you to restore the balance of the fluid without opening the eyeball. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis, without provoking the development of cataracts. The terms of rehabilitation of patients are 1-2 days.

There are three main approaches to the treatment of glaucoma: conservative (drug), surgical and laser. Choice medical tactics determined by the type of glaucoma.

The objectives of drug treatment of glaucoma are to reduce IOP, improve blood supply to the intraocular optic nerve, and normalize metabolism in the tissues of the eye. According to their action, antiglaucoma drops are divided into three large groups:

Drugs that improve the outflow of intraocular fluid: miotics (pilocarpine, carbachol); sympathomimetics (epifrin, dipivefrin); prostaglandins F2 alpha - xalatan, travatan).
Means that inhibit the production of intraocular fluid: selective and non-selective ß-blockers (betaxolol, betoptik, timolol, etc.); a - and β-blockers (proxodolol).
Preparations combined action(fotil, cosopt, normoglaucon, etc.).

With the development of an acute attack of angle-closure glaucoma, an immediate decrease in IOP is required. First aid begins with the instillation of miotic - 1% pilocarpine solution according to the scheme and timolol solution, the appointment of diuretics (diacarb, furosemide). At the same time with drug therapy carry out distracting activities - setting cans, mustard plasters, leeches on the temporal region (hirudotherapy), hot foot baths. Laser iridectomy (iridotomy) or basal iridectomy by a surgical method is necessary to remove the developed block and restore the outflow of intraocular fluid.

Methods of laser surgery for glaucoma are quite numerous. They differ in the type of laser used (argon, neodymium, diode, etc.), the method of exposure (coagulation, destruction), the object of exposure (iris, trabecula), indications for performing, etc. In laser surgery for glaucoma, laser iridotomy and iridectomy, laser iridoplasty, laser trabeculoplasty, laser goniopuncture. In severe degrees of glaucoma, laser cyclocoagulation can be performed.

Have not lost their relevance in ophthalmology and antiglaucomatous surgery. Among the fistulizing (penetrating) operations for glaucoma, the most common are trabeculectomy and trabeculotomy. Non-fistulizing interventions include non-penetrating deep sclerectomy. Operations such as iridocycloretraction, iridectomy, etc. are aimed at normalizing the circulation of intraocular fluid. In order to reduce the production of intraocular fluid in glaucoma, cyclocryocoagulation is performed.

Treatment with folk remedies

Glaucoma treatment folk remedies pursues the same goals as conservative treatment, that is, in other words, the goal of treatment is to control and normalize intraocular pressure. It is best to carry out treatment with folk recipes in conjunction with doctor's prescriptions and the use of medications.

One of the causes of increased pressure inside the eye is a deficiency of minerals and vitamins, and in herbal remedies, which form the basis folk therapy, includes a sufficient amount of these beneficial substances.

Before starting the treatment of glaucoma at home, it is necessary to measure the pressure in the eyes, and the treatment process itself should be carried out under its control. Intraocular pressure should be measured on an outpatient basis at least once a month. Pressure control is needed in order not to miss the deterioration and increase in pressure.

If the control shows that in the case of glaucoma, alternative methods of treatment have their effect and the pressure is normal, then you can continue to use them. If there is a deterioration in the condition or the pressure remains at high numbers, in this case it is necessary to consult a doctor and carry out treatment in traditional ways.

The thing is that glaucoma is also called the "silent thief of vision", since in most cases the disease begins and proceeds without pronounced symptoms. So that it does not happen that during treatment folk ways vision has deteriorated, it must also be measured periodically, at least once every 5-6 months.

Symptoms of deterioration include: sensations of a foreign object in the eye, narrowing of peripheral vision, glow around objects, decreased vision, and other signs. When they appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and measure eye pressure in order to detect glaucoma in the early stages.

Before you cure glaucoma with folk recipes, you need to divide all recipes into local ones (eye instillation, compresses, and so on) and general ones, which can be regularly consumed orally. Useful substances contained in plant and natural ingredients, even when taken orally, have their positive effect. It does this by improving drainage. lymphatic system, improving the rheological properties of blood, cleansing the blood plasma from the products of cell decay.

The most common ways to eat alternative treatment of glaucoma with herbal remedies include the following recipes:

Treatment with aloe - for this you need to take an aloe leaf, cut it finely, and then pour a glass of hot water. Strain the resulting infusion (within 3 hours) and use to wash the eyes several times a day.
Treatment with mummy - it can be used orally in courses of 25-30 days. To do this, you can drink mummy in undissolved form, 0.5 g several times a day, as well as dissolve 1.0 mummy in a glass of water and use it before bedtime. Rich mineral composition Shilajit can help restore blood rheology and improve drainage in the eye cavity.
Raw Potato Treatment - This recipe is used for glaucoma pain. To do this, rub one potato on a fine grater and add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to it. Then put this gruel on a cloth and make a compress in such a way that the area around the eyes is captured.
Treatment with rose hips - for this, a liter jar must be filled to the top with rose hips and poured warm water. Then insist the solution for a week and drink, diluting with water (1 tablespoon of infusion per glass of water).
Treatment of glaucoma with honey - for this, mix honey with onion juice in equal proportions, adding the same amount of dandelion juice to them. Insist the mixture for 3-4 hours and bury their eyes several times a day. Since the composition is not stored at room temperature, it should be done in a small amount at least every other day and stored in a dark, cool place. Honey can be mixed with tomato juice (1 tablespoon per glass of juice) and drunk over a long period of time.
With honey in equal proportions, you can mix dill tincture, which is sold in the pharmacy chain, and then after a few hours, bury your eyes in a few drops with it.
Treatment with blueberries - for this, fresh berries are mixed in equal proportions with natural honey and consumed 2-3 tablespoons of the mixture daily several times a day.
Treatment with vegetable juice - for this, celery, carrots, parsley, cucumbers and beets are taken in equal proportions, juice is squeezed out of them and consumed fresh throughout the day before meals.
Treatment with a golden mustache - for this you need a sheet 15–20 cm in size, which, finely chopped, is poured with boiling water to the top. Insist for at least a day, and then use 3-4 times a day, 1 tablespoon before meals, after dissolving the infusion in a glass of water. You can also instill the juice of this plant directly into the eyes several times a day.
Treatment with berries - for this you can use the berries of mountain ash, black and red currants, viburnum and strawberries, which are taken in equal proportions (2 tablespoons each) and consumed fresh 2-3 times a day.
A mixture of aloe juice and honey can be instilled into the eyes, which are taken 1 tablespoon each and mixed with 100 g of pure water. You need to bury your eyes at night, after washing them with tincture of anise leaves (1 tablespoon of the dry mixture and 0.5 liters of water).
Dill seed compress - for this, put a few dill seeds in a small linen bag and lower the bag into boiling water. After 2-3 minutes, remove the bag, cool slightly and apply to the eyes overnight in a warm form.

Folk remedies for the treatment of glaucoma should be combined with compliance with the regime of work and rest, and also take these drugs for a long period of time. The point is that everything folk recipes do not have the miraculous power of healing in 10-15 days, they must be taken for a long time and carefully. Combining these methods with glaucoma prevention measures will help reduce the risk of complications and the percentage of surgery.

Eye drops

Antiglaucoma drugs in the form of eye drops are represented by various groups of drugs, represented by three main types (according to the mechanism of hypotensive action):

Means that reduce the production of intraocular fluid (blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors) - for example, Timolol, Betoptik and Trusopt.
Eye drops for glaucoma that improve the outflow of intraocular fluid from the eyeball (miotics, lantanoprost) - Pilocarpine, Xalatan, Travatan.
Combined drugs with dual action. These include Fotil (timolol + pilocarpine) and Proxophilin.

Attention! Eye drops for glaucoma are prescription drugs and are prescribed only by the attending ophthalmologist with constant monitoring of intraocular pressure. Independent use of these funds or their replacement is not allowed.

Arutimol

Azarga

Azopt

Betoptic

Kosopt

Fotil

Timolol

Okumed

Pilocarpine

Travatan

Trusopt

Xalatan

At the present stage in the medical treatment of glaucoma, three main directions can be distinguished:

antihypertensive therapy aimed at normalizing intraocular pressure;
therapy that improves the blood supply to the optic nerve and the inner membranes of the eyeball, aimed at stabilizing visual functions;
therapy aimed at normalizing metabolic processes in the tissues of the eye in order to influence the degenerative processes characteristic of glaucoma.

There is also an opinion that the therapeutic strategy for the treatment of glaucoma can be built taking into account the impact on:

increased intraocular pressure;
decreased perfusion and vagospasm;
providing neuroprotection.

It is important to consider the principles of approach to treatment, taking into account risk factors for disease progression. In the pathogenesis of glaucoma, two risk factors are the most important in the progression of the disease:

increased IOP;
vascular factor leading to a decrease in perfusion of eye tissues.

A derivative of ischemic tissue damage is the release of neurotropic toxic substances such as glutamate. The need for neuroprotection or prevention of destructive changes in neurons has always existed, although the possibilities for this are very limited.

For antihypertensive therapy, miotics are used, which are divided into cholinomimetic and anticholinesterase agents. The former act like acetylcholine, the latter block cholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine. The main mechanism of action of miotics on intraocular pressure is their deblocking effect on the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye and the venous sinus.

Miotics lead to pupil constriction, the iris is pulled away from the angle of the anterior chamber and contributes to its opening. This mechanism is especially important in angle-closure glaucoma. In open-angle glaucoma, miotics open the venous sinus and trabecular fissures, increasing the tone of the ciliary muscle.

Of the cholinomimetics, the most common are pilocarpine hydrochloride (1-4% solutions), carbacholin (0.5-1%) and aceclidine (2-5% solutions). The disadvantage of cholinomimetics is the short duration of their hypotensive action (4-6 hours).

Pilocarpine hydrochloride remains one of the main antihypertensive agents used in glaucoma, with long-acting drugs being preferred. The hypotensive effect is significantly extended when using polymer films impregnated with pilocarpine.

Of the anticholinesterase agents, the following drugs for glaucoma are best known: phosphacol (0.2% solution), armies (0.01% solution). They have a longer miotic effect (more than a day).

The use of strong miotics with anticholinesterase action is severely limited due to pronounced side effects and, first of all, their cataractogenic effect.

The following group of drugs for lowering IOP combines different drugs.

Of the sympathicotropic (adrenergic) drugs for the treatment of glaucoma, adrenaline and fetanol are used. Adrenaline stimulates both alpha and beta adrenoceptors. The mechanism of its action is aimed at improving the outflow of fluid from the eye and reducing the rate of formation of aqueous humor. Weak solutions of adrenaline (0.1%) are used, but they are ineffective. A higher effect is given by concentrated solutions (0.5-2%). Adrenaline potentiates and prolongs the action of pilocarpine.

Less commonly, a 3% solution of fetanol is used in the clinic. Clonidine is more widely used, which is installed in the eye in the form of 0.125% or 0.25% and 0.5% solutions. Basically, this drug reduces the secretion of intraocular fluid.

Beta-blockers have a good antihypertensive effect. These drugs lower intraocular pressure by inhibiting the production of aqueous humor. Of this group, timolol is especially effective, which is instilled into the eye in the form of 0.25% or 0.5% solutions 1-2 times a day. Timolol is well tolerated by patients, does not affect pupil width and accommodation. The hypotensive effect of this drug is enhanced by its combined use with miotics and adrenaline.

In our practice, the alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocker proxodolol, produced by Belmedpreparaty, has proven itself well. Its action after a single installation lasts 8-12 hours. Proxodolol is recommended for the treatment of open-angle and mixed glaucoma 2-3 times a day, 1-2 drops.

Used to treat glaucoma also beta-1-blocker betaxolol

In glaucoma, drugs are also widely used that significantly inhibit the production of aqueous humor. For example, for the rapid relief of an acute attack of glaucoma, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are used.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors mainly affect the reduction of aqueous humor secretion (by 50% on average). The most widespread is acetazolamide called diacarb. Its effective dosage is 0.25 g 2-4 times a day. The most frequent side effect when using diakarba, there are paresthesias in the extremities, less often - loss of appetite, nausea, weakness and urethral colic. In such cases, drug withdrawal is necessary.

The means of osmotic action include urea, mannitol, sodium ascorbate and glycerol. Their hypotensive effect is quite long. Preparations of this group are used to stop an acute attack of glaucoma and in preparation for anti-glaucomatous operations.

The most common osmotic antihypertensive agent is glycerol (glycerol, trioxypropane). The drug is given orally in a 50% solution at a dose of 1-1.5 g (or 2-3 ml of solution) per 1 kg of body weight. To improve the taste, fruit juice is added to the solution.

In the treatment of an acute or subacute attack of glaucoma, the patient is immediately prescribed a 1-2% solution of pilocarpine. During the first hour, instillations are performed every 15 minutes, then every half an hour (3-4 times) and every hour (2-3 times). Then instillations are reduced to 6 times a day. Instead of pilocarpine, carbachol can be instilled. Simultaneously with miotics, the patient is prescribed a 0.5% solution of timolol and diacarb (0.5 g, then 0.25 g 4 times a day), glycerin (1-2 times a day), hot foot baths. Leeches are placed on the temple to relieve pain.

If an acute attack of glaucoma cannot be stopped within a day, the patient should be offered anti-glaucoma surgery.

Some authors are of the opinion that the period of observation and drug treatment acute attack should not exceed 12 hours, after which the patient should be operated on. Patients who receive emergency care for an acute attack of glaucoma was performed at home or in a clinic, should be urgently sent to an ophthalmic hospital for surgical treatment. It should also be noted that surgical treatment is indicated in almost all cases of open-angle glaucoma with elevated IOP.

Recently, prostaglandins have been added to the arsenal of drugs used to treat glaucoma.

Latanoproap (xalatan), travatan are representatives of this subgroup. They lower IOP not by reducing intraocular fluid production, but by increasing uveoscleral outflow. With long-term treatment (1-2 drops once a day), travatan and latanoprost well levels the daily IOP fluctuation curve. It combines well with all known antiglaucoma drugs.

Combined preparations have become more widely used in the practice of treating glaucoma patients.

So, for example, fotil and fotil forte are used - this is a combination of timolol maleate and pilocarpine. The mode of application of Fotil forte is 2 times a day, 1-2 drops. Fotil can be prescribed for all types of primary glaucoma and for secondary glaucoma.

Dorzolamide hydrochloride (Trusopt) is a new topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used in the form of eye drops. The maximum hypotensive effect of the drug was observed 2 hours after instillation. This drug can be combined with almost all antiglaucoma drugs, potentiating their hypotensive effect.

For glaucoma, dystrophic changes in various tissues of the eye, especially in the optic nerve head, are typical. The development of these changes can be delayed with the help of vasodilator drugs, angioprotectors and agents that improve metabolic processes in the eye.

Due to the lack of blood supply to the eye in glaucoma, vasodilators (nicotinic acid, nikoverine, nihexine, no-shpa) and drugs that improve blood aggregation properties (pentoxifylline, trental) occupy a certain place in the treatment of patients. This helps to improve the blood supply to the eye and has a beneficial effect on the condition of the visual fields.

Vasodilator drugs are prescribed mainly for patients with open-angle glaucoma with compensation and stable subcompensation of IOP. At the same time, blood pressure control is mandatory.

Means used to normalize metabolic processes in the tissues of the eye include B vitamins (B1, B6, B12, B15), as well as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), cocarboxylase. We have proven the effectiveness of the use of antioxidants - alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), etc.

A patient with glaucoma is not contraindicated in mental and moderate physical work. Daily walks are helpful. Work with a long tilt of the head, tight collars, belts is contraindicated. Smoking and drinking alcohol should be excluded, since alcohol and nicotine increase dystrophic processes in the optic nerve. Patients with angle-closure glaucoma should not go to the cinema, and a television program can only be watched in good lighting in the room. Nutrition for patients with glaucoma is recommended mainly dairy and vegetable, you should limit the use of water.

The treatment of glaucoma is a rather multifaceted issue, since not only the causes of the disease are treated, but also its consequences. You can learn more about the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease.

In order to understand how to treat glaucoma, you need to decide on the main links of the pathological process. So, an increase in intraocular pressure occurs, firstly, due to an increased amount of aqueous humor produced in the eyes and, secondly, due to a narrowing or complete blockage of the drainage system for this fluid in the corner of the anterior chamber of the eye.

The diagnosis of "glaucoma of the eye" indicates that the intraocular fluid, accumulating in the eyeball in excess of the norm, creates an increased pressure here, which damages other structures of the eye. The optic disc, the place where the nerve exits the eyeball and carries visual signals to the brain, suffers from constant fluid pressure. The picture of the fundus shows how, over time, the ONH (optic nerve head) undergoes changes, expands, its swelling and excavation (deepening) occur. The person gradually loses his sight.

At the initial stage, which can last asymptomatically for several years, this is almost imperceptible. But gradually the patient begins to feel a narrowing of the peripheral field of vision, which in the terminal stage takes on the character of a narrow tunnel, and then decreases simply to light perception.

Treatment options for glaucoma include conservative treatment (eye drops, tablets), surgery (laser and conventional surgery), a combination of these methods, and in some cases traditional medicine.

All measures are aimed at preventing vision loss, since it is irreversible in glaucoma.

Treatment of congenital glaucoma

In patients with a similar diagnosis drug therapy ineffective. Treatment of glaucoma without surgery in this case is impossible. Medications are prescribed immediately before surgery in order to reduce the amount of aqueous humor in the eyes. The most effective are drugs from the group of beta-blockers (Timolol maleate) and drugs that inhibit carbonic anhydrase (Dorzolamide, Brinzolamide). Systemically, patients are prescribed osmotic diuretics, which remove excess fluid from the entire body.

It is impossible to cure glaucoma without surgery, since the drainage system of the eye itself does not work in a newborn with such a pathology, therefore, it is necessary to physically form a path for the evacuation of fluid, and in case of its congenital hyperproduction, reduce the volume of cells responsible for this.

How to treat an open-angle form of the disease

This type of glaucoma is characterized by the fact that the drainage angle of the anterior chamber of the eye is free, but for one reason or another it is narrowed and unable to provide a normal outflow of aqueous humor.

Conservative therapy is based on the local application of drugs of the following groups:

reducing the production of aqueous humor: beta-blockers (Timolol, Octipol), carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (Dorzolamide, Brinzolamide, Azopt, Brizal).
improving uveoscleral outflow and the functioning of the drainage system: cholinomimetics (Pilocarpine, Armin, Carbacholin, Phosphacol, Fosarbin) and prostaglandin analogues (Xalatan, Travatan, Lanatan).
acting in combination on both links of the pathological process: alpha-adrenergic receptor agonists (Clonidine).

Summation of the antiglaucoma action of various groups of drugs

Normalization of intraocular pressure on early stage able to stop the progression of the disease. Many doctors believe that glaucoma in this case, although not completely curable, is controllable.

Some drugs - prostaglandin analogues and beta-blockers - are prescribed for regular use. The patient should instill them every day two or three times to keep IOP (intraocular pressure) under control. Other drugs are able to reduce intraocular pressure so sharply that they are used to stop an acute attack of glaucoma.

Rapidly rising IOP is manifested acute pain in the eye, blurred vision, clouding of the cornea, the appearance of precursors in the form of iridescent halos around light sources. The eye turns red, the pupil dilates, the eyeball itself feels harder to the touch - it “hardens”. Medical treatment glaucoma of the eye during this period consists in the introduction of a 1% solution of Pilocarpine every quarter of an hour, two drops into the eye, and a subcutaneous injection of Promedol. Sedatives are also needed, and if there is no effect within three hours, an intramuscularly lytic mixture consisting of Aminazine, Pipolfen and Promedol is needed. In addition, patients may administer intravenous diuretics or rectal saline laxatives.

If medical relief of an attack is not possible, they resort to surgical intervention to remove excess intraocular fluid.

Pilocarpine is used to rapidly lower IOP

To cure glaucoma, and most importantly, its negative effect on the optic nerve and retina, in addition to antiglaucoma drugs, it is necessary to use drugs to improve blood circulation in the inner membranes of the eye and optic nerve and drugs that normalize cellular metabolism. These include ginkgo biloba, trental, dicinone, cinnarizine, nootropil, emoxipin, mexidol, vitamin complexes, preparations Vitaiodurol, Vitafacol, Fakovit. These drugs are especially relevant if glaucoma is accompanied by cataracts (clouding of the lens). In many especially elderly patients, these two diseases develop in parallel, and if glaucoma of the eye is treated by surgical operation, then the cataract can be removed at the same time.

Surgical treatment is also addressed with an unsatisfactory effect of drugs, a rapid decrease in vision, a sharp increase in IOP, and atrophy of the optic nerve papilla.

Can glaucoma be cured this way? Definitely can effectively reduce the risk of developing damage from high pressure intraocular fluid. During the operation, new pathways for the outflow of moisture are formed and existing channels are unblocked, and the number of cells that produce the aqueous humor itself is also reduced.

Despite the good positive effect, surgical treatment has several contraindications:

viral, fungal, others chronic diseases in the acute stage, acute allergies or other inflammatory processes;
previous heart attack or stroke;
predisposition to retinal detachment.

Open-angle glaucoma can be treated with drooping surgery, non-invasive surgery, and laser surgery.

Penetrating operations create artificial channels for the evacuation of intraocular fluid. To do this, part of the trabecular meshwork is removed, resulting in a sharp decrease in the amount of fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye. An artificial shunt (Ahmed valve) can also be installed, which acts as a one-way valve to the outlet in one direction.

Various types of eye valves and shunts

Non-invasive method is non-penetrating deep sclerectomy. This method is based on the thinning of the trabecular meshwork layer, as a result of which it becomes more permeable and fluid leaves the anterior chamber of the eye more easily. This manipulation can be performed not with surgical instruments, but with a laser. It is called laser trabeculoplasty. In laser iridectomy, a small hole is burned in the iris to allow additional fluid drainage.

To reduce the production of aqueous humor resort to a decrease in the ciliary body. A small area of it is removed with a laser, as a result of which less fluid is produced and IOP decreases.

After surgery, some complications are possible:

for some time the operated eye does not see, pain and cramps are felt;
possible accidental damage to the lens;
high risk of inflammation and attachment bacterial infection;
formation of a hematoma in the eye;
detachment of the choroid.

Therapeutic measures for angle-closure glaucoma

Glaucoma of this type develops with the absolute impossibility of outflow of intraocular fluid through the drainage angle. Pathology can be congenital or acquired as a result of trauma, while the iris or other structures of the eye block access to the trabecular meshwork and the intraocular fluid simply has nowhere to go. Is there a cure for glaucoma? Yes, and the treatment is mostly surgical. Medicines are used to relieve acute attacks of angle-closure glaucoma and before surgery to slightly reduce fluid production.

The main directions of intervention are the formation of another way of outflow of moisture and the maximum reduction of its production.

Artificial channels are formed during the installation of fistulas and valves from the anterior chamber of the eye into the sub-Tennon space, where the intraocular fluid is drained.

Reductions in aqueous humor production are achieved by transscleral cyclocoagulation. With the help of heat or cold, some of the ciliary cells are destroyed, acting on them through the layers of the conjunctiva and sclera.

Laser iridectomy (formation of outflow through the hole in the iris) is indicated if the patient has congenital acute-angle glaucoma. In this case, the operation is preventive in nature. With a closed angle, such an operation allows you to quickly eliminate an acute attack of IOP growth.

Laser peripheral iridotomy is used in narrow angle glaucoma to increase the angle between the iris and cornea to improve fluid flow.

Physical unlocking of the drainage angle can be achieved using modern methods laser gonioplasty, in which the iris is coagulated in the root zone. After this stage, trabeculoplasty must necessarily follow, otherwise the coagulation zone may grow again in the future.

After the treatment of glaucoma by surgical methods, as well as against the background of taking medications, regular examinations by a doctor are mandatory. They are necessary to control IOP and take timely measures - replacing drugs with stronger ones or adjusting the dose.

Alternative medicine

At home, in the initial stages of the disease, it is possible to maintain the visual functions of the eyes with folk remedies.

Recipes for the treatment of glaucoma are quite simple and include decoctions, infusions, tinctures, compresses from medicinal plants - ginkgo biloba, eyebright, nettle, fennel, dill, blueberries and black currants. Also, traditional medicine recommends ingestion carrot juice with spinach, and onion juice prepare a paste with honey and apply on the eyelids. There are a great many recipes using bee products for treatment, where, along with honey, propolis and pollen are called.

TO unconventional methods include:

Acupuncture - irritation and massage of certain points that can reduce intraocular pressure.

Aromatherapy is the application of specially selected mixtures of aromatic oils to active points, which stimulate blood circulation, cell nutrition, and also contribute to general relaxation and lower IOP.

Hirudotherapy is a technique where glaucoma is treated with leeches. This practice, as a means of reducing IOP, is based on the ability of leeches to activate lymphatic drainage and blood microcirculation in the eyeball and its structures. They put medicinal leeches on the temple area from the side of the diseased eye, on the ear lymph node and behind the ear, on either side of the second cervical vertebra. It is believed that the animal instinctively sucks at the most active points, which enhances the positive effect of lowering intraocular pressure.

Tools like this are good. additional treatment, but still stable normalization of intraocular pressure can be achieved only with the use of medications or surgery. In addition, do not neglect, because preventing a disease is always easier than treating it.

Good day, dear and beloved readers! Today I would like to talk about such a dangerous and difficult disease as glaucoma. Every year, many people lose not only their sight, but even their eyes due to this pathology.

It manifests itself at any age, may not depend on heredity, develops as an independent disease, and can also occur as a complication of another pathology of the eye or even other organs and systems. So, is glaucoma of the eye treated without surgery?

Glaucoma is called intraocular hypertension disease. An increase in the content of intraocular fluid leads to progressive destruction of all structures of the eye and a decrease, and then complete loss of vision.

Unfortunately, at the initial stages, the signs of the disease are nonspecific and rarely cause concern for patients:

Pain in the eye, which often mimics a headache or toothache. It is unstable, with seizures, it is stopped by taking analgesics for a short period of time.
Rainbow circles when looking at a light source. Many simply do not attach importance, since the effect is short-lived.
Narrowing of the fields of vision. Patients themselves do not notice, since development is slow and they have time to adapt to changes. Relatives and relatives may notice that a person has impaired peripheral vision, he sees in a limited range and is forced to turn his head, choosing the right angle for better vision.
Decreased sharpness. It can proceed both according to the type of myopia and hypermetropia - a person progressively and rather quickly loses his sight.
One of the diagnostic criteria is the formation of an acute attack against the background of pupil dilation (in a dark room or medication when examining the fundus).

And the market provides a huge amount, a different set of ingredients, active and excipients will allow you to pick essential medicine in terms of cost and content. These drugs include:

Blueberry Forte;
Vitrum Vision;
Lutein Complex and so on.

The disadvantage of this kind of drugs is the need for long-term continuous use of at least 1 month. Unfortunately, patients often forget about the medicine and do not see the result of the application. Vitamins are just auxiliary means, they will not get rid of glaucoma, but they will help reduce the “destruction” of eye tissues, normalize innervation processes.

Medicines will only stop the process, but only surgery can help in the cure!

So, drawing conclusions, conservative therapy is permissible only at the initial stages, when the structures of the eye are still intact, and vision is relatively compensated.

It is necessary to remember the consequences of the disease, follow all the doctor's instructions and think about the future by eye for the complete correction of the defect. Take care of your eyesight! See you soon!

A disease of the organs of vision, in which intraocular pressure increases, is called glaucoma. Actually, this is a group of pathologies with one common symptom. Glaucoma takes a wide variety of forms that determine the nature of the treatment. We will find out how this disease is treated and whether it can be cured with folk remedies.

What causes glaucoma and how does it manifest itself?

With a constant increase in pressure in one or both eyes, almost all structures and tissues of the eyeball are damaged, mainly the optic disc and the cornea. Lack of treatment and progression of the disease cause atrophy of the optic nerve, damage to the cornea and other components of the optical system, which inevitably leads to the loss of all visual functions - up to complete blindness, which is irreversible.

An increase in pressure in the eye is observed when the outflow of intraocular fluid is disturbed. This happens as a result of damage to certain eye structures. Aqueous moisture - one of the components of the optical system of the eye - begins to stagnate in the chambers of the eyeball and presses on their walls, causing a pressure surge. The development of glaucoma different reasons. It can be provoked by injuries of the head and organs of vision, eye surgery, which led to complications, ophthalmic diseases. However, these factors cause secondary glaucoma, it disappears after the elimination of the underlying cause.

Primary glaucoma- a pathology that develops independently, and not against the background of any other ophthalmic diseases. It occurs due to age-related changes in the eyeball, in violation of the blood supply to the intraocular structures and the nervous regulation of the functions of the eye, due to the progression of farsightedness or myopia, genetic predisposition.

Forms of glaucoma and symptoms of the disease

There are two main types of glaucoma - open-angle and closed-angle. There is also a mixed form in which signs of both types are observed. Open-angle glaucoma is more common, but it is much more difficult to diagnose because it is asymptomatic for a long time. The only sign that the patient can notice himself is visual impairment. In this case, visual acuity does not decrease immediately. First, there is a narrowing of the field of view. It is not always possible to notice this at the initial stage of the development of the disease, which is why it is rapidly progressing, and it becomes much more difficult to treat it. It usually develops in both eyes. Other symptoms of open-angle glaucoma are redness of the eyes, watery eyes, photophobia, pain in the eyes and head. These are already signs of the next stages. These symptoms are characteristic of many ophthalmic pathologies, which further complicates the diagnosis.

Angle-closure glaucoma is diagnosed much less frequently, but its symptoms are more pronounced. It is accompanied by acute attacks of increased pressure, which are characterized by:

pain in the eye area;
redness of the protein coat;
visual impairment;
nausea, vomiting;
pain in the region of the heart.

Some of these signs are present in the symptoms of concussion, hypertensive crisis, heart attack. Patients who called an ambulance are prescribed appropriate drugs, and increased intraocular pressure is not detected. This leads to serious and irreversible visual impairment.

Diagnosis of the disease

When a patient contacts the clinic with complaints of pain in the eyes and deterioration of vision, the oculist will definitely measure the intraocular pressure. If it turns out to be elevated, other methods of examination will be prescribed:

measurement of fields of view;
visual assessment of the anterior chamber angle (gonioscopy);

During the diagnosis, the type of glaucoma, its causes and stage are determined. Based on these data, appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Treatment methods for glaucoma

There are three ways to treat glaucoma: conservative (medication), which includes the appointment of eye drops and vitamins, surgical and laser. Treatment of open-angle glaucoma must begin at an early stage of its development. Then it is possible to stop the progression of the disease with drugs, that is, without the help of surgery. In the later stages, only surgical treatment is possible.

In acute attacks of glaucoma, first aid should be provided immediately. A few hours of delay can cost a person dearly.

High blood pressure can lead to severe damage to the optic nerve head. Vision in such cases disappears irreversibly.

As for folk remedies, they only partially help to stabilize intraocular pressure. They cannot cure glaucoma. At the same time, traditional medicine can only be used in the context of general treatment and on the advice of a doctor.

Medicines for the treatment of glaucoma

Conservative therapy refers to treatment with drops. Advantage eye preparations in that they act instantly and do not cause side effects. The choice of a particular drug depends on the type of pathology. Open-angle glaucoma is treated with drops that reduce the production of aqueous humor in the eye (Timolol, Betaxolol). With angle-closure glaucoma, drugs are prescribed that narrow the pupil (Pilocarpine, Carbacholin). This helps open the angle of the anterior chamber through which aqueous humor circulates.

In addition to ophthalmic drops, the patient is prescribed vitamins that stimulate blood circulation in the eye and optic nerve, which helps prevent the death of nerve fibers. For any type of glaucoma, it is recommended to take thiamine (B1), pyridoxine (B6), nicotinic acid(PP).

Eye drops and vitamins help with the initial stages of glaucoma. They are also discharged after operations for quick recovery.

Operative treatment of glaucoma

Quite a lot has been developed surgical methods fight against glaucoma. The most common is trabeculectomy. Its essence is to remove part of the trabecular meshwork. Trabeculae are empty spaces in the chambers of the eye. With the elimination of part of the trabeculae, the rate of outflow of aqueous humor increases. The operation is often performed under local anesthesia, but in rare cases under general anesthesia. The doctor makes a micro incision on the conjunctiva, through which he gains access to the trabeculae. At the last stage of the procedure, the surgeon sutures the operated area. After that, eye drops and vitamin complexes are prescribed. They help speed up healing. Surgical treatment of glaucoma is not without its drawbacks. It does not always allow you to completely cure the patient. Sometimes there is a recurrence, which requires repeated surgical intervention.

Can be prescribed for glaucoma and lens replacement surgery. It becomes necessary in the secondary form of the disease, when glaucoma causes subluxation of the lens. Replacing it with an intraocular lens allows you to cure glaucoma and save the patient from various refractive errors.

Surgical treatment of glaucoma is being replaced today by laser methods. There are several laser surgeries prescribed for this pathology.

New in the treatment of glaucoma: modern laser methods

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is treated with laser iridectomy. The doctor makes a micro-hole in the iris with a laser. Through it, intraocular fluid quickly leaves the eye through both of its chambers. Before the procedure, the patient is instilled with anesthetic drops and miotics - drugs for constricting the pupil. After that, a lens is installed on the eye, which collects laser beams in a specific area of \u200b\u200bthe iris, where a hole will be made. This method has a significant drawback. It is not used for clouding of the cornea and its swelling, which is often the case with glaucoma.

Another laser method successfully used to treat glaucoma is called laser trabeculoplasty. Today, it is the main treatment for open-angle glaucoma. During this procedure, several dozen burns are made on the trabecular meshwork with a laser. In the process of recovery and healing, small scars begin to form, due to which the trabecular network is stretched and the distance between the trabeculae increases. Due to this, aqueous humor leaves the chambers of the eye faster. This technique is not effective for the treatment of angle-closure glaucoma, in which it is necessary to act on the angle of the anterior chamber.

The most modern way to treat glaucoma is laser cyclocoagulation.

This operation helps even in the second and third stages of the development of pathology. During the procedure, the tissues of the ciliary body are destroyed by the laser, in which aqueous humor is formed. Due to this, it is possible to reduce the rate of production of intraocular fluid. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis. It doesn't last more than an hour. After the procedure, a bandage is applied to the eye, which can be removed after a couple of hours.

Treating glaucoma in the elderly is no different than treating the disease in people of other ages. However, glaucoma occurs most often in old age. The primary form of this disease in young people and even more so in children is diagnosed extremely rarely.

Alternative treatment of glaucoma

Treatment of glaucoma with folk remedies should not replace the main methods. Don't resort to traditional medicine without consulting a doctor. Commonly used for glaucoma are:

Tincture from wood lice. This herb contains many vitamins that improve the functioning of all structures of the eye. The tincture must be taken orally.
A decoction of blueberries. The properties of blueberries that are beneficial for the organs of vision have long been known. These berries are also used for glaucoma.

honey solution. It is very easy to prepare. You need to dissolve a spoonful of honey in a glass of water. Wash the eyes with the solution 1-2 times a day.
Infusion of aloe leaves. It is also used for washing. You can make an infusion as follows: chop the leaves of the plant and pour them with boiling water. Cool the decoction before washing the eyes.