Is Glaucoma a Very Serious Treatment?

Glaucoma causes optic nerve damage from the buildup of fluid in the eye. If left untreated, the eye pressure permanently damages and affects vision. Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness globally. Treatments for the condition include eyedrops, laser therapies, and surgery to slow down vision loss to save your sight.

Glaucoma Explained

Glaucoma is generalized to describe various eye disorders damaging your optic nerve. However, it is familiar because of optic nerve damage resulting in vision loss.

In most cases, fluid build-up in the front of your eye, putting pressure on it to gradually damage the optic nerve. The pressure caused by the fluids is called intraocular pressure. People with normal eye pressure can also get glaucoma. Untreated glaucoma or poor management can result in permanent and irreversible blindness and vision loss.

You may develop glaucoma in both your eyes, with the condition initially worsening in one eye. For example, one eye may also have moderate damage with open-angle glaucoma. However, patients with closed-angle glaucoma in one eye may develop the same type in the other by 40 to 80 percent within five to ten years.

How Common Is Glaucoma?

An estimated 3 million Americans are affected by glaucoma, making it a common age-related eye issue. It is the second leading cause of blindness after cataracts globally.

Different Types of Glaucoma

There are different types of glaucoma, including the following:

• Open-Angle Glaucoma: this version affects 90 percent of Americans, making it the most common form. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when resistance builds up in the eye’s drainage canals. As a result, the drainage canals appear open and functioning normally. Unfortunately, over several months or years, the fluid can build up, putting pressure on the optic nerve. As many people don’tdon’t experience symptoms, the condition may remain unnoticed for years.
• Closed Angle Glaucoma: alternatively called angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma, this version is rare and occurs when the angle between the iris and cornea narrows. Closed Angle glaucoma occurs with pupil changes, making it too big weekly to block the drainage canals and prevent the aqueous fluid from draining from the eye. It results in increased pressure causing eye pain and headaches to require immediate attention from the optometrist in Franktown.
• Normal-Tension Glaucoma: Approximately one in three people develop optic nerve damage without high eye pressure. Uncertainty exists among experts on the causes of normal tension glaucoma. This version is more common in people of Asian descent and Asian Americans.
• Genetic Glaucoma: some babies have drainage canals improperly formed in the womb at birth. The child’s healthcare provider will detect the symptoms of gene glaucoma at birth, or the signs will become visible during childhood.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

If you want to know the early warning signs of glaucoma, it helps to know that some versions of glaucoma don’tdon’t exhibit early signs or symptoms because the changes occur gradually. As many people with open-angle glaucoma will not have noticeable symptoms, it is essential to have routine eye care exams from the Franktown optometrist. Getting the exams is necessary to protect the disease in its primary stages because damage from glaucoma is irreversible, making early detection and treatment to prevent blindness essential.

Closed-angle glaucoma exhibits severe symptoms that tend to appear unexpectedly. With this version, you may experience eye pain or pressure, headaches, rainbow-colored halos around lights, blurred, narrow or low vision, and blind spots besides nausea, vomiting, and red eyes.

Risk factors Of Glaucoma

Anyone can get affected by glaucoma, but the aging population is at an enhanced risk. Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to get glaucoma than people from other ethnicities. Asian and Inuit populations are susceptible to angle-closure glaucoma. Diabetics are twice as likely to get affected by this condition. Other risk factors include family history, high blood pressure, nearsightedness or myopia, eye injuries earlier or surgery, et cetera.

Glaucoma Diagnosis

You may have glaucoma and only know about it once you visit the Franktown optometrist for regular eye exams to detect the problem or other conditions. The exams can ascertain your optic health and vision loss. In addition, the eye doctor will perform various painless tests when checking for glaucoma.

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma treatment is available in various forms, including prescription eye drops, laser therapy, and surgery. Depending on your unique situation, your doctor will determine which option best suits your needs.

Is Glaucoma Curable?

No cures are currently available for glaucoma. However, you can manage the symptoms to control the condition from worsening. Blindness is rare in glaucoma if detected and treated early. However, the chronic disease causes some degree of vision loss, making it a severe problem. Therefore while the treatment for glaucoma is not concerning, the condition can cause vision loss making it a worrying issue.

If you encounter challenges with your vision, it helps if you visit Founders Eyecare to have your eyes examined to identify whether you have a severe condition like glaucoma. Getting the situation detected and treated early is your best option to prevent vision loss.