Is glaucoma very serious?

Glaucoma is a disease that is well known but how serious is it? By age 40, you should get checked for glaucoma every two to three years. At Perich Eye Center, our team offers effective treatment options for glaucoma, helping control the condition to prevent worsening of your vision. As with almost all medical conditions, early detection is key to the best possible outcome.

Is glaucoma very serious?

Glaucoma can be very serious and is a leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 40. The most common form of the eye condition often worsens without any symptoms, causing progressive vision loss and can lead to blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma is a disease that if left untreated can lead to irreversible vision loss from damage done to the optic nerve.

The most common form of glaucoma happens as a result of increased pressure in the fluid of the eye, known as increased intraocular pressure. There have even been instances of glaucoma reported where people have experienced optic nerve damage when the intraocular pressure has been normal, this is why it is so important to get regular eye exams.

The exact cause of glaucoma is still unknown. We do know that the main contributing factor is a blockage of passages that normally allow the fluid within your eye to drain. When this happens the build up of fluid in the eye can put damaging pressure on the optic nerve that can, if left untreated, lead to loss of vision. The nerve fibers and blood vessels in the eye are very fragile and can be easily damaged by this change in pressure causing vision loss to occur.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma. The best way to slow the progression of this condition is to improve lifestyle habits and stick to your plan of care prescribed by your doctor. The biggest thing you can do to prevent glaucoma is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and manage any chronic conditions such as diabetes to the best of your ability.

Over two million people in the United States are currently living with some form of glaucoma, making it one of the most prevalent conditions we treat. Risk factors include but are not limited to family history of glaucoma, low eye pressure, pre existing conditions like diabetes and heart disease, smoking, nearsightedness, and race. African Americans are more susceptible to open angle glaucoma and are fifteen times more likely to experience blindness as a result of this condition.

We highly recommend that from thirty years of age and on you schedule regular eye exams as an early prevention method and detection tool against glaucoma. Early detection promises better outcomes and greater ability to prevent damage that can lead to blindness.

How can I tell if I have glaucoma?

We often call glaucoma the silent thief for its lack of noticeable symptoms that will damage eyesight without warning. Noticeable physical symptoms may not show up until it’s too late. Signs and symptoms will vary depending on the type of glaucoma you have.

If you have primary open-angle glaucoma, your first noticeable symptom may be vision loss.

If you have acute-angle closure glaucoma, your first sign may be blurred vision. You may also notice rings or halos around lights and eyes that get red and feel strained often.

At Perich Eye Center, we are highly trained to recognize and test for glaucoma. We use a painless procedure called tonometry to measure the internal pressure of your eye. It is important to come in for regular eye exams so that we can establish a history record that enables us to easily detect changes. Testing for glaucoma is always part of a complete eye exam.

During these visits, your eye doctor will check your eye pressure, and if it is higher than normal, they will perform further tests to determine if there have been changes in the optic nerve that may indicate glaucoma. By utilizing multiple ophthalmic tools, your doctor can provide an accurate glaucoma diagnosis by examining your eye pressure, side and central vision, and interior structures of your eye. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, your eye doctor will closely monitor its progress during regularly scheduled visits. Detailed photographs of the optic nerve can show any changes that may indicate surgery is necessary.

Will glaucoma eventually make me go blind?

If left untreated, glaucoma can cause blindness, but thankfully with early detection, regular examination, and consistent treatment, glaucoma can be managed. If treatment is not initiated in enough time vision loss will start at the periphery and progress to the central vision eventually leading to total blindness. We can not stress the importance of early detection enough.

What are the types of glaucoma?

There are two types of glaucoma:

1.) Open-Angle Glaucoma:

This form of glaucoma affects 70-90% of people with this diagnosis and results from a gradual rise in intraocular pressure due to a blockage in the trabecular meshwork of the eye. If an episode of acute glaucoma is treated early enough, there is a good chance that the vision in the affected eye will be able to be recovered at a high percentage of what it was before. However if neglected, or not treated properly blindness can occur within two days or less.

2.) Angle-Closure Glaucoma:

This form of glaucoma is a result of a bulging iris that blocks or narrows out the drainage passages in the eyes and can either be acute or chronic. Prognosis for Open-angle glaucoma is dependent on how well a person sticks to their eye drop and medication plan of care. If neglected, blindness can occur. This type of glaucoma is characterized by sudden pain in the eye, often accompanied by blurry vision, nausea, and vomiting. Acute angle closure glaucoma requires immediate treatment.

What are my options if I need surgery for my glaucoma?

The need for surgery to treat your glaucoma will be determined by one of our doctors at Perich Eye Center. Depending on the type you have, we will recommend one of these options:

Trabeculectomy: This involves the doctor putting a tiny cut on the white part of the eye to let fluid build up drain which can be either a Xen Stent or an Ahmed Shunt.

Cyclophotocoagulation: This may be a suitable option if others are not recommended. A small laser is used in multiple settings to relieve pressure within the eye.

SLT (Selective laser trabeculoplasty): In this laser surgery, the doctor will use a highly targeted but low-level laser on the spots where there’s a pressure build up. Compared to some glaucoma medications, SLT offers better side effect rates, with only mild inflammation reported by post-operative SLT patients. Inflammation following SLT is managed with eye drops or NSAIDS.

Treatment for glaucoma is designed to lower your eye pressure, improve fluid drainage, or reduce fluid production. It is important to note that damage from the disease is irreversible, but when caught early, you can typically avoid severe vision loss.

If you would like to set up an appointment to learn more about the disease and whether you are at risk, please feel free to contact us. We have six convenient Central Florida locations all able to help you better understand your specific situation and help establish your best options for potential treatment. Click here to contact us today.