Patients âgés et glaucome

Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness worldwide. It is a major public health issue because of its frequency, its severity, its impact and the scope for effective treatments. Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy. There is not one but several types of glaucoma. The most common form is open-angle glaucoma. The problem is the diagnosis, since the disease remains asymptomatic for a long time, up to an advanced stage. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is much more easy to diagnose because of its obvious symptoms. The challenge lies in the screening of people at risk, to offer them preventive care and avoid reaching the acute phase. The prevalence of glaucoma increases with age. Geriatricians therefore have a major role in the early detection of glaucoma and in the identification of predisposing factors.