I have Glaucoma: I often bump and fall. Why is this?

Due to changes in the visual field, a person with glaucoma may fall several times, for example, while walking. Ophthalmologist Maria João Menéres explains the implications of this disease:

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve which, in most cases, is associated with increased intraocular pressure, with consequent death of the optic nerve cells. These do not regenerate, and their loss results in marked changes in the visual field and, ultimately, blindness.

What is the visual field? The visual field is the entire area which is visible with the eyes fixed on a given point, specifically central and peripheral vision, i.e. to the right, to the left, up and down.

In this disease, the natural evolution consists of a progressive loss of the visual field, with central vision being the last to be lost. Therefore, a person with glaucoma may have 100% central vision and find that they see very badly because the visual field is altered. They cannot see well to the sides. If someone has glaucoma and bumps into objects or people, and falls frequently, it means that this person has advanced glaucoma with important alterations in their visual field, which has an impact on the quality of life of this person, leading to, for example, when walking in the street looking straight ahead and not at the ground, not noticing a hole, a step or bumping into objects, leading to a greater risk of falls with all the consequences that this can have on the health and well-being of the person.

Considering that most glaucomas are of a chronic and progressive nature, it is of the utmost importance to be observed and followed by an ophthalmologist. Especially after the age of 40 and in people who have family members with glaucoma.

In most cases, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can change the natural course of the disease, preserving full vision and consequently improving the patient's quality of life.

In tomorrow's programme we will talk about complaints in the treatment of glaucoma.

With the support of the Portuguese Society of Ophthalmology.