What is Glaucoma? • Risk Factors • Types of Glaucoma • Signs and Symptoms • Diagnosis • Treatment • FAQs
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in America. It affects between 2 and 3 million Americans each year. Many of those affected do not even know they have the disorder. Because it often has few or no warning signs until damage has already been done to the eye, untreated, glaucoma permanently damages the optic nerve, leading to blindness. If it is detected early enough, the progress of the disease can be halted with medical and surgical options.The doctors at Wellish Vision Institute provide comprehensive dilated eye examinations to monitor eye diseases such as glaucoma so proper treatment can be delivered and vision loss can be avoided.
Glaucoma Definition
Glaucoma is a disease of the eye in which the pressure of fluid inside the eyeball is too high for the healthy functioning of the optic nerve. This is caused by obstructed outflow or hyper-secretion of the fluid. The increased pressure can damage the optic nerve and lead to partial or complete loss of vision.
Glaucoma Risk Factors
While high eye pressure is an important risk factor for the development and progression of glaucoma, it is still only one of many. Some other risk factors include:
- Ethnic background
- Diabetes and related diabetes eye conditions
- High levels of myopia
- Previous trauma to the eye
- Steroid use
- Individuals who have parents with glaucoma
- African Americans over the age of 40
What Are The Different Types Of Glaucoma?
Open-angle glaucoma, also called wide-angle glaucoma, is the most common type of glaucoma. The structures of the eye appear normal, but fluid in the eye does not flow properly out of the eye.
Angle-closure glaucoma. Also called acute or chronic angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma, this type of glaucoma is less common in the West than in Asia. Poor drainage is caused because the angle between the iris and the cornea is too narrow and is physically blocked by the iris. This condition may lead to a sudden buildup of pressure in the eye.
Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma
The symptoms of glaucoma can be different for each form but in most cases, people are not aware until significant damage has been done. Most of this damage does occur to the optic nerve.
Open-Angle Glaucoma Symptoms include:
- Vision loss
- Gradual loss of peripheral vision
Angle-Closure Glaucoma Symptoms include:
- Decreased vision
- Cloudy vision
- Sudden, severe pain, usually in one eye
- Eye feels swollen
- Red eyes
- Halos around lights
- Nausea and vomiting
How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
Glaucoma is diagnosed through routine comprehensive dilated eye exams. As we have stated most cases of glaucoma are typically not suspected by patients. They are usually detected in the course of an eye examination or done for some other reason, such as “routine” exams, cataract evaluations, or even follow-ups of a patient with macular degeneration. It is much better to discover this before it becomes a problem.
The best defense against glaucoma is regular eye examinations by your ophthalmologist or optometrist. Early detection can mean the difference between normal and lost vision.
How is Glaucoma Treated?
How is Glaucoma Treated?There are a variety of treatment options for glaucoma, including eye drops, oral medication, and surgery. Typically, medications are used to lower eye pressure. They do this by either improving the flow of fluid out of the eye or decreasing the amount of fluid the eye produces. For some patients, medication alone is not enough, and laser eye surgery is required. Surgery for glaucoma can be performed using either microsurgical instruments or a laser to improve the drainage of the eye, thus lowering the pressure inside the eye. While damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed, if it is caught early and treated properly, outcomes are usually very good.
Here at Wellish Vision Institute, we take an extensive approach to glaucoma doctor care, starting with a comprehensive eye examination including testing using our advanced glaucoma technologies. After our doctors determine if you do have one of the stages of glaucoma, we will discuss your treatment options with you. These treatment options can include eye drops, laser, and/or glaucoma surgery if deemed necessary.
The best way to figure out how to treat your glaucoma case is to see us for an in-office visit. We can then determine the progression of your disease and can begin with something as simple as a regimen of medical eye drops.
Glaucoma Specialists of Wellish Vision Institute
Our glaucoma specialists at Wellish Vision Institute are focused on patient well-being and the preservation of vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are common questions patients ask about glaucoma:
What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
Most people with open-angle glaucoma don’t have symptoms. If symptoms do develop, they are usually late in the disease. That’s why glaucoma is often called the “sneak thief of vision.” The main sign is usually loss of side, or peripheral, vision.
Open-angle glaucoma usually affects both eyes, and the only real symptom is a gradual loss of peripheral vision. This loss is so gradual that it usually isn’t noticed until significant damage has already occurred.
Closed-angle glaucoma can cause short episodes of symptoms or severe acute onset of symptoms and usually affects only one eye at a time.
Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma usually come on faster and are more obvious. Damage can occur quickly. If you have any of these symptoms, get medical care right away:
- Seeing halos around lights
- Redness in your eye
- Vision loss
- Eye that looks hazy
- Eye pain
- Upset Stomach or vomiting
If there are no symptoms, how is glaucoma diagnosed?
Testing for glaucoma is part of a regular eye exam. Therefore, keeping up with your annual eye exams is key to early detection and prevention of vision loss.
Can glaucoma be prevented?
Unfortunately, glaucoma can’t be prevented, but with early detection and proper treatment, it can be controlled, greatly reducing the chances of damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.
