The leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the United States is the result of glaucoma, which affects individuals of all ages. Glaucoma is a disorder of the eye where the optic nerve is damaged and thus permanently damages vision in the eye/eyes that is affected. If untreated, this condition can lead to blindness so once a diagnosis of glaucoma is given, treatment should start immediately with medical care from a skilled and trained glaucoma doctor.
The harsh reality of glaucoma is that symptoms may not be noticeable right away and many who have it are not even aware they have the disease. Sufferers of this condition often don't even experience pain or vision loss in the early stages. As this disease progresses,
patience often start to experience sudden eye pain, blurred vision, headache, the appearance of halos accompanied with lights, and the loss of side vision.
There are 2 main types of glaucoma: Angle-closure and open-angle. Angle-closure is characterized by poor drainage and a rise of sudden pressure within the eye as a result of the angle between the cornea and iris is too narrow. Open-angle is probably the most common type which involves the fluid in the eyen not properly draining by way of the trabecular meshwork.
Glaucoma is characterized by a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve resulting from the increased pressure present in the eye. This condition can also be caused by blocked blood vessels, injury, inflammatory eye conditions, or severe eye infection. The majority of glaucoma cases can be treated with microsurgery, laser surgery, or eye drops, however; the treatment depend on the severity and type of disease present and should be under the care of a glaucoma doctor.
Studies have shown that there may be some factors that increase a person's chances of getting glaucoma such as dietary factors, ethnicity, genetics, prolonged use of steroids, severe diabetic retinopathy, ocular trauma and more. Individuals at risk of this disease are advised to have a dilated eye exam once every 2 years however; older patients may be advised to test annually.
Many individuals do not become aware that they have glaucoma until undergoing a routine eye exam. The eye exams given to diagnose glaucoma measure how well a patient sees at various distances and also checks their peripheral vision. Other tests may include tests that measure the pressure within the eye and those that measure the how thick the cornea is.
The medical treatment goals given by a glaucoma doctor today focuses on avoiding nerve damage and glaucomatous damage in addition to preserving visual field and the patient's total quality of life with as little side effects possible. In order for this goal to be reached, there must be proper diagnostic techniques, appropriate selection of treatments for the patient, and follow-up examinations.
There is currently no cure for glaucoma; however, treatment focuses on preventing further damage and relieving symptoms of the disease. Currently, treatments such as surgical techniques and certain pharmaceuticals are being used to lower the intraocular pressure in the eye, which is only one risk factor of the disease.
Individuals, who feel they are experiencing some of the symptoms of glaucoma, feel they are at risk, or just want to learn how to prevent this condition should speak with a knowledgeable glaucoma doctor. With a call to the doctor's office to set up an appointment you can learn information on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of glaucoma, whether or not you are at risk, and if you have actually been experiencing symptoms of glaucoma.
