What is glaucoma and how does it affect Mexicans?

A silent disease can undermine the visual health of Mexicans: glaucoma.

The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) annually treats more than 500,000 patients diagnosed with glaucoma. This number includes both patients who are diagnosed for the first time and those who are under continuous medical follow-up , who receive comprehensive and specialized care to ensure they receive the necessary treatments to control the progression of the disease and improve their quality of life.

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Dr. Vanessa Guerra Roque, a Non-Family Physician and Ophthalmologist at the General Hospital of the National Medical Center (CMN) La Raza, noted that the IMSS conducts periodic evaluations and offers guidance on the importance of annual ophthalmological checkups for the early detection of glaucoma, especially in people over 40 years of age, who are at greater risk of developing this disease .

The specialist from the High Specialty Medical Unit (UMAE) “Dr. Gaudencio González Garza” of the IMSS indicated that this condition It is one of the main causes of blindness worldwide, since it is a disease that affects the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss. . Although It is usually related to high intraocular pressure, but there are also normal tension glaucomas. .

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He stressed that Regular check-ups are essential for their detection “Glaucoma is a silent disease that causes no pain or alterations until the disease is very advanced and the patient notices that their vision has decreased, but by then the patient has already gone through many years of the disease.”

Vanessa Guerra explained that glaucoma is detected through regular checkups with an ophthalmologist, especially after age 40, when the risk of developing the disease increases. "It's crucial to have annual checkups to assess intraocular pressure and optic nerve structure."

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He added that The success rate of glaucoma treatment at the IMSS is approximately 50 percent. Although glaucoma is not curable, treatment can slow its progression ; however, the success of treatment will depend on the patient's comorbidities and adherence to treatment, which includes the use of eye drops and, in some cases, surgery .

Dr. Guerra Roque pointed out that at the IMSS, every patient referred to ophthalmology is examined to rule out the disease, so it is essential that all patients see a specialist at least once a year for a checkup .

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“At the IMSS, approximately 50 percent of patients diagnosed with glaucoma will experience a slowing of the progression of their disease, since they were diagnosed early and received treatment promptly, and, very importantly, that the patient continues to use their eye drops,” he said.

The glaucoma specialist reminded us that this condition is multifactorial; it can be contracted from many causes. However, The main causes that can make it evolve more quickly are: diabetes, hypertension and smoking. .

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He said that glaucoma can be disabling, especially for older adults , who gradually lose their vision until they become blind. This affects their ability to perform daily activities and may require the assistance of others.

"It's most common in adults, who may already have systemic alterations due to other illnesses or difficulty walking. Add to that the fact that these people, unfortunately, can no longer leave their homes and are unable to care for themselves," he commented.

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He stated that the main cause of this condition is open-angle glaucoma, which accounts for between 60 and 70 percent of cases. However, In Mexico, the leading cause of blindness is diabetes mellitus with neovascular glaucoma, due to poor control of the disease in the population. .

Dr. Guerra Roque reminded beneficiaries of the importance of annual checkups with an ophthalmologist. She also emphasized the possible genetic cause of glaucoma, recommending that immediate family members also undergo ophthalmological evaluations.

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The Mexican Social Security Institute encourages all patients, whether at risk or not, to undergo an annual evaluation by an ophthalmologist, especially those with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or eye trauma, to rule out the risk of developing the disease or to obtain an early diagnosis to preserve vision and improve quality of life.

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OA