Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. The eye's drainage angle stays open, but the filter (trabecular meshwork) drains the aqueous humour poorly: intraocular pressure rises slowly and damages the optic nerve — with no pain or warning sign at first.
A silent progression
The visual field narrows from the periphery towards the centre, so gradually that the patient does not notice until an advanced stage. Hence the crucial importance of screening after 40.
Risk factors
Family history of glaucoma, age, high myopia, African or Caribbean descent, raised intraocular pressure, certain conditions (diabetes, sleep apnoea).
Treatments
The goal is to lower the pressure to stop progression: eye drops first, SLT laser, then glaucoma surgery if the disease progresses despite treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can lost visual field be recovered?
No: optic nerve damage is permanent. Treatment aims to preserve what remains — which is why early diagnosis is decisive.
Book an appointment
Consultations in Boulogne-Billancourt (Ophtalife) and Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Beaurepaire).