The Glaucoma team is led by two consultants (Mr Kashif Ali and Ms Tasmin Berman) working
alongside a team of specialist nurses, optometrists and orthoptists to provide services for patients
with glaucoma across the region.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged
where it leaves the eye.
Although any vision which has been lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered, with early diagnosis, careful monitoring and regular use of the treatments, further damage to vision can be prevented and most patients retain useful sight for life.
While there are usually no warning signs, regular eye tests will help detect the onset of the disease.
Glaucoma is one of the world's leading causes of blindness. In the UK about two per cent of the
population over 40 have the condition.
Types of glaucoma
There are four main types of glaucoma: primary open angle glaucoma, primary angle closure
glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, developmental glaucoma (congenital glaucoma).
Primary open angle glaucoma - This is the most common type of glaucoma and develops very
slowly
Angle closure glaucoma - This is rare and can occur slowly (chronic) or may develop rapidly
(acute) with a sudden, painful build-up of pressure in the eye
Secondary glaucoma -This occurs because of an eye injury or another eye condition, such
as uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye)
Developmental glaucoma (congenital glaucoma) -This is rare but can be serious. It is usually
present at birth or develops shortly after birth. It is caused by an abnormality of the eye.
What causes glaucoma?
Glaucoma can occur for several reasons.
Most cases are caused by a build-up of pressure in the eye when fluid is unable to drain properly.
This increase in pressure then damages the nerve that connects the eye to the brain (optic nerve).
It is often unclear why this happens, although certain things can increase the risk, including:
• age – glaucoma becomes more common as you get older
• ethnicity – people of African, Caribbean or Asian origin are at a higher risk
• family history – you are more likely to develop glaucoma if you have a parent or sibling with
the condition
• other medical conditions – such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness and diabetes
It is not clear whether anything can be done to prevent glaucoma, but having regular eye tests
should pick it up as early as possible and treatment started early enough can prevent visual loss.
Glaucoma clinics
Glaucoma clinics can be face to face clinician or doctor led, or they may be “virtual”.
Glaucoma virtual clinics are suitable for people with a diagnosis of ocular hypertension, suspect
glaucoma and stable glaucoma.
These conditions require regular monitoring but are low risk, meaning that you will not need to see a specialist clinician at every visit.
The main benefits of glaucoma virtual clinics are:
• This system maximises all our available appointments to ensure that people are not given
unnecessary appointments, kept waiting for appointments or do not have their
appointments cancelled.
• People who can be discharged are discharged sooner.
• Waiting times in the evaluation clinic are much shorter
• All tests are performed in one visit to the hospital. Your notes are then reviewed by a
clinician, and you receive a letter with the outcome
How do we treat glaucoma?
The Westminster Eye Centre glaucoma team have facilities to offer patients a number of tests to
diagnose glaucoma and treatments to prevent sight loss or worsening sight loss.
The tests measure pressure within the eye, the visual fields (peripheral vision) and provide detailed imaging of the back of the eye. In cases
There are different treatment options for patients with glaucoma, all of which will be discussed with
the Ophthalmologist and advice provided about which option is best for them.
The following treatments are available:
• Eye drops – most patients will be treated with eye drops. These are usually effective and
not too uncomfortable for patients.
• Laser – laser can be used instead of eye drops or alongside them. The team use the most
up to date treatment, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), which is safe, quick and
painless.
• Surgery – a number of different procedures can be performed for glaucoma when a patient
has significant visual loss or when other treatments are ineffective. In most cases surgery
can be performed under local anaesthetic. These include minimally invasive glaucoma
surgery (commonly combined with cataract surgery), preserflo, trabeculectomy and
glaucoma drainage devices (Paul Tube). The consultant will discuss the most appropriate
surgery if required.
For further information and support please see Glaucoma UK
https://glaucoma.uk