Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, most often associated with raised intraocular pressure. It progresses silently for years: the visual field narrows gradually from the periphery towards the centre, without pain or early symptoms — hence the crucial importance of screening.
The two main types
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common, with a chronic silent course; and angle-closure glaucoma, whose acute form (red eye, intense pain, blurred vision) is an ophthalmic emergency.
Screening
Measurement of intraocular pressure, optic nerve analysis (fundus exam, OCT) and visual field testing. Regular screening is recommended after 40, especially with a family history of glaucoma or high myopia.
Treatments
The goal is to lower intraocular pressure to halt progression: pressure-lowering drops first line, SLT laser, and glaucoma surgery if the disease progresses despite medical treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Does glaucoma cause blindness?
Detected and treated in time, glaucoma is controlled in the great majority of cases and patients keep functional vision. Established damage is however not reversible — early diagnosis is everything.
Can you have glaucoma with normal eye pressure?
Yes: so-called normal-tension glaucomas exist. Diagnosis relies on optic nerve and visual field analysis, not on the pressure measurement alone.
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Book an appointment
Consultations in Boulogne-Billancourt (Ophtalife) and Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Beaurepaire).