Today, glaucoma is a major public health problem, representing the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. 76 million people are affected by glaucoma in the world, and almost 112 million will be by 2040¹. The term glaucoma refers to a number of serious eye diseases which, if left untreated, result in irreversible loss of vision.
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases responsible for the destruction of the optic nerve. This nerve, originating in the retina, transmits images to the brain.
Glaucoma causes irreversible damage to the cells of the optic nerve.
Initially, peripheral vision is affected, but if left untreated, the entire field of vision can be lost².
There are many different forms of glaucoma³ , and it's more accurate to talk about “glaucomas” rather than “glaucoma”. In practice, there are two main types of glaucoma:
Ocular hypertonia
The first stage in the development of glaucoma is called hypertonia or ocular hypertension. At this stage, eye pressure is higher than normal, without destroying the optic nerve or visual field. As the risk of developing glaucoma increases with age, regular check-ups are recommended to detect any potential progression to the disease.
Open-angle glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma, accounting for around 9 out of 10 cases. Affecting both eyes, but often asymmetrically, this type of glaucoma progresses very slowly. This is because the eye's aqueous humor filtration and drainage system becomes progressively blocked, slowly increasing intraocular pressure.
Angle-closure glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma is often acute, i.e. it occurs suddenly. This type of glaucoma is much rarer and occurs secondary to a sudden closure of the iridocorneal angle, causing a rapid and very significant increase in intraocular pressure. It may also exist in chronic form. Signs of this type of glaucoma include severe headaches, eye pain, red eye, blurred vision and nausea. Angle-closure glaucoma requires urgent medical treatment.
Normal-pressure glaucoma
In some cases, the disease develops and continues to progress even though the intraocular pressure measurement is normal. In such cases, the optic nerve cable is probably fragile and becomes damaged, even though the pressure is at normal levels. This type of glaucoma is also treated by reducing intraocular pressure, and also requires the management of all vascular risk factors (blood pressure, diabetes, etc.).
Congenital glaucoma
Some rare glaucomas occur at birth (1 in 5000) and are known as congenital glaucomas. They can be detected early, as the increase in intraocular pressure before the age of 3 results in elongation of the eyeball, making it appear larger and fatter. Infants also show other suggestive signs, such as lacrimation and severe discomfort with light. Because of the difficulty of detecting them and their often-severe evolution, they are particularly insidious and dreadful for the future vision of affected children, requiring intensive treatment starting as early as possible.
Secondary glaucoma
In contrast to so-called primary glaucomas, whose causes remain unknown, there are secondary forms of glaucoma, generally resulting from external causes. These can be linked, for example, to ocular trauma, inflammatory disease of the eye, or treatment with cortisone or corticosteroids.
Although the precise cause of glaucoma is not yet known, it has been proven that several factors can contribute to its onset⁴:
Glaucoma is a disease that cannot be cured, but its evolution can be controlled by preventing it from progressing and worsening. It is a very treatable disease. The aim of treatment is to determine the target level of ocular pressure (which varies from one individual to another) that will counteract the progression of the disease and protect the optic disc and visual field from further damage. This level of ocular pressure may differ from one patient to another, which is why the ophthalmologist needs to individualize treatment. For example, a glaucoma patient with dry eye symptoms will be referred to a preservative-free eye drop.
For many years, no symptoms, discomfort or loss of visual acuity can be detected.
However, in more advanced forms, certain symptoms² may appear, such as:
Asthma, rhinitis, food allergies... the prevalence of allergies has increased dramatically in recent decades to the point that it is estimated that nearly one-third of the world's population suffers from some form of allergy¹⁻². In the field of ocular allergy, corticosteroids have revealed their side effects over time, leading the industry to develop therapeutic alternatives³⁻⁴. Théa was a pioneer with the discovery of a multifactorial antiallergic molecule, followed by the development of preservative-free antiallergic eye drops, both in the ABAK® bottle and in single-dose form.
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Many ocular pathologies are linked to poor hygiene of the eyelids and the eye contour. Théa collaborated with leading experts in galenic science and ophthalmology to create a range of products specifically for eyelid hygiene. This range includes gels such as Blephagel® (for sensitive eyelid hygiene), sterile wipes like Blephaclean® (for eyelid and sensitive skin hygiene), as well as micellar solutions such as Blephasol® (for eyelid and eyelash hygiene).
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Dry eye is an ocular disorder characterized by a lack of lubrication and hydration on the eye's surface, resulting in symptoms such as dryness, irritation, and discomfort. Théa has developed a complete range of preservative-free products for tear supplementation, available in single-dose or ABAK® bottles. This approach is supported by research demonstrating the harmful effects of preservatives on the eyelids, ocular surface, and tear quality⁵.
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Our products provide essential support to ophthalmologists during various surgical procedures (such as cataract surgery), enhancing the precision of operations while ensuring optimal patient comfort. Théa is committed to providing advanced solutions for clearer vision and a more comfortable surgical experience.
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In this area, Théa is a major player with a range of eye drops and ointments, including antiseptics and antibiotics, covering the spectrum of bacterial infections regardless of severity.
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Ocular inflammation is associated with various conditions such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and keratitis. As in other fields, Théa has developed preservative-free eye drops in single-dose and multidose ABAK® bottles. This advancement minimizes the aggravating factors of ocular inflammations caused by preservatives⁷.
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