What You Need to Know About Glaucoma
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What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition that increases fluid pressure in the eye and damages the optic nerve, which results in impaired vision. While it may develop at any time, glaucoma is most common in adults over the age of 60. In fact, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for adults in this age range. Family history and medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes can increase your chances of developing glaucoma.
There are multiple types of Glaucoma including:
- Open-angle glaucoma
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma
- Normal-tension glaucoma
- Pigmentary glaucoma
What are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of glaucoma differ based on which type of glaucoma you have. However, there are some shared symptoms impacted by the disease. Symptoms include but aren’t limited to:
- Blurry Vision
- Extreme Eye Pain
- Eye Redness
- Seeing “Halos” (Bright Rings/Circles Surrounding Lights)
- Nausea and Vomiting
Are there Warning Signs?
Unfortunately, many forms of glaucoma do not have warning signs and there is no way to prevent it from occurring. Oftentimes the effects of glaucoma are gradual. Therefore, changes in vision aren’t detected until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
What are the Treatment Options?
The best way to treat glaucoma is by diagnosing it in the early stages. You can do this by regularly scheduling eye exams with your ophthalmologist. At Wang Vision Institute, our experienced ophthalmologists perform comprehensive eye exams to assess your full eye health. They pay close attention to any glaucoma symptoms in order to slow or stop the progression of vision loss.
If glaucoma is detected, your doctor will determine the best treatment plan based on your specific diagnosis. Here are some common treatment options for glaucoma:
- Medicine - Your doctor may prescribe eye drops or pills to reduce IOP (intraocular pressure).
- Surgery - Your doctor may recommend performing surgery to drain excess fluid and reduce eye pressure.
Don’t wait until it’s too late, schedule an eye exam with Wang Vision Institute today.