The Glaucoma is an eye disease defined as progressive optical neuropathy or a disease of the optical nerve.
One of the main reasons that produce this condition is the high intraocular pressure, while a person with relatively low pressure can produce damage in the optical nerve, another one with a high ocular pressure during many years cannot produce damage in the whole life.
It has been proved that many facts can triggered that cellular apoptosis with the structure loss of the neuronal support and posterior function of the optical nerve, appearing blindness by areas or “pixels” in the visual field.
Between these facts are the repetitive trauma (intraocular pressure changes), microcirculation disease such as: mellitus diabetes, low blood pressure, hypertension, smoking, vasoconstrictive drug addiction, although it can be shown as spontaneous neuronal apoptosis with probable influence of oncogenes and family tendencies.
Glaucoma without treatment results on irreversible damage of the optical nerve, its destruction and as a consequence, the loss of visual field and can produce partial or total blindness.
Glaucoma Treatment
Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT)
Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT) is an effective proven procedure for different glaucoma types. The laser is used for enlarging the drainage channel for controlling the eye pressure.
The ALT is often recommended when the medical therapy is not enough for pressure control and the glaucoma progress. Although, this procedure has recently been defended as some doctors as the primary therapy in the glaucoma treatment, especially on patients that have medical contraindications for glaucoma or for any reason, are unable to use eye drops.