Glaucoma
One of the leading causes of blindness for people over 60.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damages the nerve connecting the eye to the brain. Left untreated, glaucoma can result in permanent blindness in just a few years. The seriousness of this common eye disease underscores the importance of having regular eye exams.
If you haven’t seen an eye doctor within the past year, call Family Eye Health today or schedule an appointment online.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes damage to your optic nerve. It typically results from a build-up of fluid in the front part of the eye. The pressure caused by this extra fluid damages the optic nerve, leading to blindness.
There are two primary types of glaucoma: open-angle and angle-closure.
Open-angle glaucoma (a.k.a. wide-angle glaucoma) is the most common. With this type of glaucoma, your eye’s drainage system looks normal but the fluid doesn’t leave the eye as it’s designed to do.
Angle-closure glaucoma is more common in Asia than in Western countries. It is also sometimes called chronic angle-closure glaucoma or narrow-angle glaucoma. This type of glaucoma is marked by the drain space between your cornea and iris narrowing. This can cause your intraocular pressure to suddenly buildup. Farsightedness and cataracts are also associated with this type of glaucoma.
What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
Glaucoma doesn’t usually display any symptoms in the early stages, which is why early detection during yearly eye exams is essential.
The following are some common symptoms of glaucoma:
- Halos surrounding lights
- Redness in your eyes
- Vomiting and/or nausea
- Eye pain
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Narrowed, or tunnel, vision
Who is at risk for developing glaucoma?
Anyone can develop glaucoma. But in most cases, it affects adults age 40 and older.
Other risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Trauma to the eye
- Taking certain medications such as prednisone
- Family history of glaucoma
How is glaucoma diagnosed and treated?
During an eye exam, your eye care provider will check your eye pressure and dilate your pupils to examine the back of your eye, including the optic nerve. You’ll likely also undergo tests such as a visual field exam to check your peripheral vision.
Today, there are more advanced computer-based options that enable your eye doctor to identify the very earliest signs of glaucoma. At Family Eye Health, we offer the following for diagnosis:
Optovue Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
OCT is a non-invasive imaging system that uses light waves to take pictures of your retina in cross-sections. With this technology, our doctors are able to see each layer of the retina and detect abnormalities within the retina and macula. OCT is also used to evaluate disorders of the optic nerve such as glaucoma or papilledema by evaluating the fibers found within the optic nerve. Because of this, our doctors are able to detect very early changes of glaucoma and closely monitor for progression with OCT.
Optomap®
Optomap® uses special scanning technology to capture a detailed image of your retina and optic nerve. With Optomap® technology, your eye doctor can see, document, and track any changes within the optic nerve that can be leading to glaucoma. This technology allows for your doctor to see the subtlest, earliest changes associated with glaucoma. The scan takes less than a second, and it’s completely noninvasive.
If you do have glaucoma, the treatment plan will depend on the severity of the condition. Typical options include eye drops, laser surgery, or microsurgery. The least invasive treatment is preferred, but severe cases may require surgery immediately in order to alleviate fluid blockages.
At Family Eye Health, we partner with you to protect the health of your eyes and your vision. Learn more about glaucoma by calling our office or by scheduling an appointment online.