Early Detection is More Crucial to Prevent Glaucoma Progression

JAKARTA, investor.id – Almost no symptoms in the early stages, glaucoma has the potential to have a more fatal impact, namely permanent blindness. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for glaucoma. In addition, anatomical factors also have an effect, especially in patients with chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma. Early detection, one of which is eye anatomy examination, is becoming increasingly crucial.

JEC Glaucoma Subspecialist Dr. Iwan Soebijantoro SpM(K) explained that individuals with primary angle-closure glaucoma tend to have a shallower or narrower anterior chamber. Other anatomical factors, such as a short eyeball axis, a thickened lens, and a shortened distance between the lens and the posterior iris surface, contribute to this category of glaucoma.

Also read: The Discipline of Periodic Examination is Key to Glaucoma Treatment

As a practitioner, Dr Iwan was also moved to uncover the possibility of other factors in order to find an early diagnosis and new treatment for people with primary angle-closure glaucoma (GPSTp). “Therefore, this study was initiated to determine the correlation between corneal endothelial damage in primary angle-closure glaucoma, particularly in the chronic category,” said Dr Iwan during a media gathering, Thursday (21/1).

The research initiated by Dr. Iwan Soebijantoro, SpM(K) stated in his dissertation ‘Relationship of Shallow anterior chamber with changes in corneal endothelial morphology in chronic primary angle closure glaucoma’. The research took place from November 2018 to November 2019 involving 52 subjects. The rational, systematic and empirical presentation of research results in the Open Examination, Doctoral Program in Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, led Dr. Iwan Soebijantoro, SpM(K) won a Doctorate degree.

Dr. Iwan explained that the study obtained results that could be implemented clinically, namely, firstly, a very shallow anterior chamber angle (15 degrees or less) has more severe consequences. Second, patients with corneal endothelial cells less than 2000 cells/mm2 had more severe RNFL depletion. Central corneal thickness, as long as it is within the normal range of 500–550 m, correlates with nerve cell thinning.

Also read: Prevent the Danger of Glaucoma

According to Dr. Iwan, this research is the first part of a road map that aims to study the characteristics of the cornea, especially corneal endothelial cells in chronic GPSTp. The existence of a relationship between the density of corneal endothelial cells and the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), is expected to be an alternative or complementary examination in assessing the severity of chronic GPSTp experienced by patients. Not only that, the results of this study further confirm that a systematic and careful clinical examination of the anatomy of the eye is still the basis for the management of glaucoma.

“This means that without waiting for complaints, eye examinations should be carried out as early as possible and periodically. Not only for people with closed-angle primary glaucoma, but for all people,” concluded Dr. Iwan.

Editor : Beautiful Handayani ([email protected])

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