- Untreated glaucoma leads to blindness, which is why regular medical examination is important.
- At the Medical Center there are experienced ophthalmologists who carry out full diagnostics for glaucoma and propose effective treatment at every stage of disease development.
- We are the leading center for the treatment of glaucoma – we were the first in Szczecin to introduce SLT laser treatments, as well as modern ECP laser treatments, which in 2015 Dr. Tomasz Miszczuk did the most in Poland.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases which result in damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. 67 million people in the world suffer from glaucoma, and more than 6 million people are completely blind because of it.
The first symptoms of visual impairment are unnoticeable for the patient. Slowly the visual field is narrowed, with the visual acuity unchanged. The patient does not know that something wrong is happening to his or her vision.
Finally, in the final stage of the disease, the patient completely loses vision in the eye, the changes can not be reversed, we often say “what glaucoma took away will not return”.
Prevention
The most effective way in stopping the development of glaucoma– like with every other disease – is it’s prevention. This is especially important for people with glaucoma diagnosed in family.Examination of the fundus, examination of the optic nerve, eye pressure measurement by an ophthalmologist once a year after the age of 40 is the basic element in preventing glaucoma development.
The primary goal in glaucoma treatment is lowering the intraocular pressure to stop the development of the disease. Complete cure of glaucoma in such a way as, for example, cure of flu or cold, is possible only in some types of glaucoma. In the vast majority of cases, the patient is condemned to treatment for the rest of his life. Appropriate treatment with drops, assuming that the patient remains under the constant control of the ophthalmologist, in most patients stops the development of the disease.
Laser treatment
At Dom Lekarski Medical Center there is a possibility of laser procedures that reduce intraocular pressure.
Xen Gel is a gel implant that was first used in 2014 in USA. Thanks to its flexibility, it adapts to the tissues between which it is implanted and it allows to lower the intraocular pressure by about 30% or more, which significantly lowers the risk of cataract development.
SLT – or Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. Simplicity and safety of the SLT procedure, as well as the possibility of repetition, make it possible to use it instead of medically and financially strenuous pharmacological therapy. According to the study, about 80% of SLT causes a reduction of intraocular pressure by an average of 25%. The treatment is available in Szczecin at our center only. SLT is conducted by MD Małgorzata Kowalik, MD Jolanta Rabus and MD Katarzyna Mozolewska – Piotrowska.
ECP – that is Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation, is the newest method of lowering intraocular pressure using the laser microendoscope. ECP can be used to treat glaucoma. The goal is to lower intraocular pressure in the eye. The procedure is safe and painless. Pressure reduction is obtained in 90% of cases, on average by 30% – this allows for discontinuation or limitation of drug treatment.
At the Dom Lekarski Medical Center, ECP treatments have been carried out since March 2013. Dr Tomasz Miszczuk is one of the surgeons performing the most ECP treatments in Poland.
| PON | WT | ŚR | CZW | PT | |
| MD Tomasz Miszczuk | - | - | - | - | 10/3/18 9:00 - 10/3/18 14:00 |
| MD Małgorzata Kowalik | - | 10/3/18 9:00 - 10/3/18 16:00 | - | - | - |
| - | 10/3/18 16:00 - 10/3/18 18:00 | - | - | - | |
| MD PhD Jolanta Rabus | - | - | 10/3/18 9:00 - 10/3/18 16:00 | - | - |
| 10/3/18 9:00 - 10/3/18 15:30 | - | 10/3/18 16:00 - 10/3/18 18:30 | - | 10/3/18 9:00 - 10/3/18 14:00 | |
The times of admission are approximate and may change
In case of arranging the procedure or additional organizational questions in connection with the planned procedure, please contact p. Anną Gurbin, 664 091 750 , agurbin@domlekarski.pl.