A comprehensive approach to treating glaucoma

In recent years, a holistic approach to medicine has gained wide popularity. A holistic approach values ​​the diversity of cultures and beliefs, and encourages treating the patient as the sum of its parts, not just the disease itself. In the traditional case, the doctors focus On the physical aspects of the disease or on treating the symptoms without treating the cause. However, in holistic medicine, there is a growing appreciation of the social, psychological, and emotional factors that contribute to disease.

In line with National Glaucoma Awareness Month (January), Dr. Salman Waqar, Consultant Ophthalmologist who specializes in the treatment of adult glaucoma and cataract at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, reveals all he needs to know about the comprehensive treatment of one of the leading causes of blindness in the world: Glaucoma, which is an eye disease that appears in the form of high intraocular pressure, which causes damage to the optic nerve.

What is intraocular pressure and what are the symptoms of high?

Why is comprehensive treatment important?

A comprehensive approach to managing glaucoma is critical, as the condition can have a variety of effects on a patient's overall quality of life.

These factors can range from difficulty attending regularly to clinic appointments (due to long travel distances), attempts to stick to regular eye drops schedules (particularly if working conditions are a barrier), and managing the stress of diagnosis. In more advanced cases: adapting to lifestyle changes (eg, not being able to drive) due to vision loss.

A physician with a holistic approach will adopt a patient-centered approach, taking into account all these factors, and develop a customized management plan that matches each individual's requirements.

The patient is always at the heart of what we do, so our primary goal is to help our patients maintain healthy vision throughout their lives.

Given that treating glaucoma can be a long-term journey to preserve vision, doctors and patients will need to work closely with each other. Both parties together have a major role in obtaining information and making decisions at every step of the process.

What is the protocol used to determine treatment options?

Glaucoma treatment has improved significantly over the past XNUMX years. Building on the results of several high-quality research studies around the world, it now guides our management protocols.

From a specialist perspective in the field of ophthalmology, our applicable and approved protocols are from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the European Glaucoma Society (EGS). All practices aim to reduce intraocular pressure appropriately, along with regular follow-up visits, to ensure long-term vision protection.

What different aspects of treatment should be considered as part of a treatment plan?

With regard to treatment, the main priority is to appropriately lower the intraocular pressure and thus preserve vision. As modern technology advances, we are truly fortunate to have a variety of treatment options to help make this happen – whether it's eye drops, gentle laser treatments or often minimally invasive surgical options.

From the patient's point of view, the most important consideration is maintaining adherence to treatment (eg regular use of eye drops) and remembering the importance of follow-up appointments.

At Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, our doctors look at all the above aspects as part of a comprehensive approach and develop a customized treatment plan that not only controls intraocular pressure, but also helps maintain the patient's quality of life. In general, we practice holistic medicine because it is good for long-term health, and because it is not limited to the current problem, but can help prevent other symptoms from progressing.