Precautions-Prevention-Check up

Glaucoma preventation

This involves early detection of green star. Green star is a disorder of the eyes which affects about 2.4% of the total population from the age of 40. Its frequency increases to over 7% in older age. There are around 800,000 glaucoma patients in Germany. Approximately 3 million people in Germany are at a preliminary stage of this disease. Glaucoma entails a slow and progressive loss of the optic nerve and a decline in the field of vision. This is often but not always associated with abnormally high intraocular pressure. Glaucoma patients usually only notice a gradual restriction of their eyesight when it is (almost) too late. Treatment that is carried out in good time (i.e. as early as possible) can prevent irreparable damage. The eye specialist carries out systematic examinations of the optic nerve and assesses them together with the results of the intraocular pressure readings. If necessary, further special examination methods must take place for a more comprehensive diagnosis.

AMD preventation

This is co-called age-related macular degeneration. It is the most common cause of blindness in people over the age of 60. However, since visual impairment is recognised by most patients only when the second eye is affected, treatment is often started too late. In the case of AMD, it is therefore particularly important to recognise changes in the retina at an early stage in order to maintain vision for as long as possible. The course of the disease can then be influenced and, with some patients, any deterioration in eyesight can be delayed or even stopped. Since AMD is associated with very distinctive changes and symptoms, regular screening can help to detect the disease and any progression in good time. The benefit of screening for AMD is therefore the creation of conditions for much earlier diagnosis and initiation of treatment with significantly better treatment results. The investigation is aimed at all patients over the age of 60 who have not undergone that type of AMD screening about two years. AMD screening is recommended particularly for patients indicating nicotine abuse, arterial hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia and a family history of AMD. In this risk group, it is recommended that screening should also take place at shorter intervals and after the age of 55.

Myopia prevention

This is retinal screening for high myopia. Patients with myopia of more than 3 diopters have a statistically higher risk of suffering a retinal detachment. Long before any retinal detachment takes place, changes occur in the outer retina in some of the affected patients. These changes can be detected by the eye specialist at an early stage and treated if necessary as a precautionary measure. Often outpatient laser treatment is sufficient to avert a dangerous retinal detachment which might otherwise occur later on and which leads to blindness. An annual check is recommended.