What is Glaucoma of the Eye?
Image from Canva Pro
Glaucoma is a well known term, but oftentimes people just don’t really know what it means. The disease is characterized by having too much pressure in the eye caused by fluid buildup. This clear fluid, known as aqueous humor, continuously flows through the inner eye. If your eye’s natural drainage system is not functioning properly, or excess fluid is produced, there is buildup that causes pressure in the inner eye.
This can eventually damage the optic nerve, which is what allows us to see images clearly. You may begin to develop blind spots, often starting in your side (peripheral) vision. Since the vision loss from glaucoma of the eye is typically gradual, the disease often goes unnoticed until the optic nerve is significantly damaged.
This is why it is so important that by age 40, you should get checked for glaucoma every two to three years. Even if you have had great vision all of your life, never needing contacts or glasses, you still need to make yearly or bi-annual eye appointments to make sure your eyes do not have any underlying conditions.
Glaucoma of the eye is one of the leading causes of blindness in people ages 40 and older. 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. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial.
What are symptoms of glaucoma in humans?
Unfortunately, symptoms of glaucoma are often not noticed right away. Glaucoma of the eye is a gradual process than slowly causes issues with your vision and therefore you generally will not notice any change until the disease has progressed along some. Some people start to notice that their peripheral vision has weakened or that there are now blind spots.
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. If you start to notice any of these problems, it is imperative to schedule an exam with an eye doctor right away to have your eye pressure tested and your eyes fully examined.
Can glaucoma be cured?
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. Unfortunately, any vision loss that occurs can not be reversed. Any vision loss that happens due to glaucoma can not be restored with current medical advancements. However, working with your doctor, you can slow the progression and there are treatment options available to help with this, including laser treatment. This is why the sooner glaucoma is diagnosed the better.
The biggest thing you can do to prevent glaucoma of the eye is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and manage any chronic conditions such as diabetes to the best of your ability. Since the damage done by glaucoma can not be reversed, the best way to prevent loss of vision is through regular eye exams and early detection. You can also slow the progression of glaucoma by taking your eye drops and medications regularly.
What are the treatment options for glaucoma?
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.
The eye surgeons at Perich Eye Center offer the following forms of treatment to effectively control your glaucoma: Eye Drops and Laser Therapy. If you are experiencing any of these problems, or have already been diagnosed with glaucoma of the eye and are looking for highly trained specialist, the team here at Perich Eye would be happy to help you out.
Please feel free to contact us today to schedule your next eye exam.
