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Glaucoma

Glaucoma · Zelený zákal (glaukom)

What it is

Pressure damages the optic nerve; vision lost is never recovered.

Symptoms & signs

  • No symptoms until late
  • gradual loss of peripheral vision
  • tunnel vision
  • painful red eye with haloes in acute angle closure

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden severe eye pain with a red eye and blurred vision
  • call 112 / 911 now Eye pain with headache, nausea and haloes around lights
  • see a doctor soon Noticing gaps at the edges of vision

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Prostaglandin eye drops (latanoprost)
  • beta blockers
  • selective laser trabeculoplasty (now first-line)
  • MIGS stents
  • trabeculectomy
  • sustained-release implants (bimatoprost Durysta, travoprost iDose TR) — FDA-approved 2020 and 2023

Natural & lifestyle

  • Attend screening from 40 (earlier if family history)
  • aerobic exercise lowers pressure slightly
  • avoid prolonged head-down positions
  • no smoking

Emerging & experimental

  • Neuroprotection trials
  • gene therapy for outflow

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) — a trial improved optic-nerve function early / small studies
  • Ginkgo biloba — small studies of better blood flow early / small studies
  • Cannabis — lowers pressure for only a few hours; not recommended not confirmed in trials

ICD codes