Glaucoma or glaucoma can lead to complete vision loss. Patients over the age of 40, especially those with a positive family history, and the elderly are most at risk. On the occasion of the approaching World Glaucoma Week, the General Health Insurance Company (VšZP) drew attention to this. He emphasizes that serious complications can be prevented by timely diagnosis by an ophthalmologist.
As TASR was informed by the VšZP communication department, the insurance company also offers the possibility of free eye pressure measurement at selected health care providers during the next week.
“The danger of glaucoma lies mainly in the fact that in the beginning it usually occurs without any symptoms, but it can lead to a complete loss of vision. That is why it is crucial to catch it in time, especially insured people who have this disease in their family should be careful. After the age of 40, they should not postpone a visit to the eye doctor,” pointed out the chairman of the board and general director of VšZP Matúš Jurových.
He specified that according to the data of the insurance company, more than 78,000 insured persons were treated for glaucoma last year, while more than 45,000 of them were registered in the age category of 61 to 80 years. Nora Majtánová, chairwoman of the expert group of the Ministry of Health for ophthalmology, clarified that the higher incidence of glaucoma in this age group is related to age-related changes in the optic nerve and reduced autoregulation of its blood supply. “According to epidemiological studies, the predominance of women is associated with hormonal changes after menopause, especially a decrease in estrogens, which can affect neuroprotective mechanisms and ocular perfusion pressure,” added.
She explained that glaucoma can only be diagnosed with a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. According to the expert, the main risk factors include older age, genetic predisposition, increased intraocular pressure, vascular diseases and metabolic disorders. She emphasized that damage to the optic nerve in glaucoma is irreversible. “The goal of treatment is to slow down or stop the progression of the disease by reducing intraocular pressure. Treatment is long-term, including local drug therapy, laser interventions, or surgical intervention,” named Majtánová. At the same time, she added that effective treatment is currently available and thus blindness can be successfully prevented.
VšZP invites you to a free eye pressure measurement in cooperation with the glaucoma section of the Slovak Ophthalmological Society. The insurance company pointed out that elevated values can be the first symptom of glaucoma or another eye disease. Insured persons can book an examination at selected health care providers between March 9 and 13.
