Glaucoma

Glaucoma Q & A

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma most often occurs when there is too much pressure buildup in the eye, caused by fluid not draining well enough. This pressure eventually gets to the point where it damages the optic nerve, leading to vision problems and blindness.

Different individuals can withstand different amounts of pressure in the eye before it starts causing problems, so it's important to allow doctor to perform a comprehensive dilated eye exam in order to determine your normal pressure levels and keep an eye on them. Glaucoma is an age related disease, and people who develop glaucoma often develop cataracts as well. In some cases, cataract surgery can be combined with glaucoma surgery to help treat both problems at the same time. If you are suffering from both eye diseases, ask us if this is an option for you.

Glaucoma Symptoms

Glaucoma typically cause no pain and produce no symptoms until noticeable vision loss occurs.

For this reason, glaucoma often progresses undetected until the optic nerve already has been irreversibly damaged, with varying degrees of permanent vision loss.

But with acute angle-closure glaucoma, symptoms that occur suddenly can include blurry vision, halos around lights, intense eye pain, nausea and vomiting. If you have these symptoms, make sure you consult a doctor immediately so steps can be taken to prevent permanent vision loss.

Glaucoma Treatment Options

The first treatment option for glaucoma is usually medication, generally in the form of eye drops that help to reduce pressure in the eye. If medication alone can't help, laser surgery or traditional surgery may be an option. Laser surgery for glaucoma has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it is less invasive than traditional surgery while still being very effective. There are different types of laser glaucoma surgery available, and which one is appropriate for you is best determined by your doctor.

Risk Factors For Glaucoma

Certain people have a higher risk of developing glaucoma than others. If you have any of the following risk factors and are over 40, you should see your eye doctor annually for a comprehensive eye exam.

• Age: Most people start to develop glaucoma after the age of 40, although it can happen in younger men and women as well.
• Family history: Glaucoma tends to run in families, so if you have relatives with glaucoma, take extra care to get your eyes checked regularly.
• High intraocular pressure: If you have high pressure in your eyes, you are likely to develop glaucoma.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes are at a higher risk of glaucoma.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, please reach out to us immediately.