Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that has very few symptoms until damage has been done. Sometimes called “the silent thief of sight,” glaucoma is a condition that damages the major vision nerve inside the eye which is called the optic nerve.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States today. Only about half the people in the United States with glaucoma actually have been diagnosed by an eye doctor.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States today. Only about half the people in the United States with glaucoma actually have been diagnosed by an eye doctor.
Do you have glaucoma?
Eye doctors will measure the pressure in your eye during a painless test and examine your optic nerves. Your eye drainage angle, optic nerve, peripheral vision, and the thickness of your cornea may be evaluated if glaucoma is suspected.
It is essential to be tested for glaucoma on a regular basis. If you have this disease and don’t receive treatment, the damage is irreversible. That means an eye doctor will not be able to restore the vision loss experienced from glaucoma. The key is early detection and prevention with appropriate management BEFORE the damage occurs.
It is essential to be tested for glaucoma on a regular basis. If you have this disease and don’t receive treatment, the damage is irreversible. That means an eye doctor will not be able to restore the vision loss experienced from glaucoma. The key is early detection and prevention with appropriate management BEFORE the damage occurs.
Treatment for Glaucoma
The 4 most common ways to treat glaucoma are eye drops, pills, laser surgery, or incisional glaucoma surgery.
- Medication / Eye Drops
Eye drops are by far the easiest and best way to treat glaucoma. The majority of patients are able to preserve their vision with the simple daily use of eye drops. If taken exactly as prescribed by your eye doctor, you may be able to avoid losing your vision.
If you are taking eye drops for glaucoma, take them exactly as prescribed. Don’t alter the frequency of the drops. Don’t stop taking the drops if you run out. Get your prescription refilled on time, every time. If you move or change eye doctors, continue your drops during the transition.
As a new patient, bringing your eye drop bottles to your eye-care appointments is the simplest and best way to show your eye doctor which medicines you are using for your eyes.
If you are taking eye drops for glaucoma, take them exactly as prescribed. Don’t alter the frequency of the drops. Don’t stop taking the drops if you run out. Get your prescription refilled on time, every time. If you move or change eye doctors, continue your drops during the transition.
As a new patient, bringing your eye drop bottles to your eye-care appointments is the simplest and best way to show your eye doctor which medicines you are using for your eyes.
- Oral Medications
- Laser Surgery
- Incisional Glaucoma Surgery
Some patients do best with surgery. In surgery, fluid shunts may be placed in your eye by an eye surgeon, the existing drainage system may be enhanced, or new drainage avenues may be created. Dr. Anderson will fully explain this to you if he recommends it as part of your treatment plan. Of course, eye surgery for glaucoma is only recommended if eye drops cannot keep your eye pressure under control, or you have very unusual conditions inside your eye that require surgery be done first.
Eye surgery always carries some risks. These risks will be explained fully to you at Vision Institute before your procedure. Serious complications are not common, but they can occur.
Eye surgery always carries some risks. These risks will be explained fully to you at Vision Institute before your procedure. Serious complications are not common, but they can occur.
What causes glaucoma?
Glaucoma is caused by more pressure in your eye than your optic nerve can tolerate. Usually, this is an abnormally high level of pressure, but occasionally one can get glaucoma with a normal level of pressure. Only your eye doctor can determine if this exists during a full eye examination. A simple pressure test is helpful but, it cannot rule out all forms of glaucoma. Sometimes other causes of optic nerve injury can be present due to eye trauma, blocked blood vessels, swelling, inflammation, or infections.
Your eye contains a clear liquid called the aqueous humor. Your body produces small amounts of this liquid at all times. This liquid keeps your eye inflated and should move freely from the back to inside the front chamber of your eye. This is where the drainage system is located – in the angle where your iris meets the wall of your eye. This liquid is not the same as your tears or the liquid that floats on the outside of your eye.
Healthy eyes have a balance between the amount of this fluid and the amount flowing out of the eye. A microscopic drainage system in your eye handles this constant drainage. This process keeps the pressure in your eye at a healthy, constant level.
Glaucoma can impair this drainage system, changing the pressure in your eye. If there is too much pressure in your eye, it pushes on the optic nerve. Too much pressure can permanently damage your optic nerve.
Your eye contains a clear liquid called the aqueous humor. Your body produces small amounts of this liquid at all times. This liquid keeps your eye inflated and should move freely from the back to inside the front chamber of your eye. This is where the drainage system is located – in the angle where your iris meets the wall of your eye. This liquid is not the same as your tears or the liquid that floats on the outside of your eye.
Healthy eyes have a balance between the amount of this fluid and the amount flowing out of the eye. A microscopic drainage system in your eye handles this constant drainage. This process keeps the pressure in your eye at a healthy, constant level.
Glaucoma can impair this drainage system, changing the pressure in your eye. If there is too much pressure in your eye, it pushes on the optic nerve. Too much pressure can permanently damage your optic nerve.
Types of Glaucoma
Open Angle Glaucoma is the most common type. As you get older, you are at higher risk for it. Why? With age, the drainage angle of your eye becomes less efficient. Pressure can increase because of lack of drainage. The collecting channels that connect your drainage system to the extraocular blood vessels may atrophy. Your risk is higher if you have a family history of glaucoma.
Open angle glaucoma occurs very slowly with age. It is gradual and painless. You won’t know you have it without an eye test until it is far advanced and you lose partial vision. The damage to your vision cannot be reversed. This can’t be stressed enough. Please get an eye exam on a regular basis to prevent vision loss from glaucoma.
Open angle glaucoma occurs very slowly with age. It is gradual and painless. You won’t know you have it without an eye test until it is far advanced and you lose partial vision. The damage to your vision cannot be reversed. This can’t be stressed enough. Please get an eye exam on a regular basis to prevent vision loss from glaucoma.
Angle Closure Glaucoma
Angle closure glaucoma is a type of glaucoma where the drainage of the eye is hindered, not because of poor function of the drainage system itself, but because the angle where the drainage system is located is partially or completely blocked. This can cover up the drainage system so the aqueous humor (fluid) cannot get into it, causing chronic pressure elevation or an acute closure over a short period of time.
Acute angle glaucoma is sudden. The pressure may be extremely high. Unlike most glaucoma, it may cause symptoms that are are very noticeable and must be treated immediately. This is an eye emergency. Vision institute is proud of our record of providing prompt service to provide people who have acute problems. Please do not delay; call your eye doctor immediately if you have these symptoms:
Acute angle glaucoma symptoms can include:
Periodic, thorough examinations are key in maintaining lifelong good vision. Please make sure you are keeping your eyes healthy with regular exams.
Loss of Vision from Glaucoma
The goal of any treatment is to prevent loss of vision. Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible. If glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can progress to loss of central vision and eventual blindness. If you have had pressure in your eyes then contact the Vision Institute for an appointment. Our doctors can professionally assess and diagnosis glaucoma.
It is our goal to help all of our patients to achieve and maintain their best vision capabilities.
Angle closure glaucoma is a type of glaucoma where the drainage of the eye is hindered, not because of poor function of the drainage system itself, but because the angle where the drainage system is located is partially or completely blocked. This can cover up the drainage system so the aqueous humor (fluid) cannot get into it, causing chronic pressure elevation or an acute closure over a short period of time.
Acute angle glaucoma is sudden. The pressure may be extremely high. Unlike most glaucoma, it may cause symptoms that are are very noticeable and must be treated immediately. This is an eye emergency. Vision institute is proud of our record of providing prompt service to provide people who have acute problems. Please do not delay; call your eye doctor immediately if you have these symptoms:
Acute angle glaucoma symptoms can include:
- Blurred vision
- Severe eye pain and brow pain, usually one-sided
- Severe headache on the same side
- Rainbow colored halos around lights
- Nausea and vomiting
Periodic, thorough examinations are key in maintaining lifelong good vision. Please make sure you are keeping your eyes healthy with regular exams.
Loss of Vision from Glaucoma
The goal of any treatment is to prevent loss of vision. Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible. If glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can progress to loss of central vision and eventual blindness. If you have had pressure in your eyes then contact the Vision Institute for an appointment. Our doctors can professionally assess and diagnosis glaucoma.
It is our goal to help all of our patients to achieve and maintain their best vision capabilities.