What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is increased ocular pressure with accompanying optic nerve damage and vision loss. It relates to the pressure in your eyes known as intraocular pressure (IOP). If this pressure gets too high it damages the optic nerve and can result in decreased peripheral vision. If left untreated it can lead to blindness.

How To Recognize A Glaucoma Symptom

Knowing how to recognize a glaucoma symptom is the first step in glaucoma prevention. There are two major types of eye glaucoma and these are chronic eye glaucoma known as primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and acute closed-angle glaucoma.

Chronic eye glaucoma can have no warning signs or symptoms and almost half the people who have this disorder don’t know they have it. Eye glaucoma gradually decreases your peripheral vision and by the time you notice the symptoms of glaucoma the damage has already been done. If your IOP remains at a high level your eye glaucoma will progress until you have tunnel vision.

Acute eye glaucoma does have symptoms and these include sudden eye pain, headaches, dilated pupils, vision loss, red eyes, haloes around lights, and nausea and vomiting. These symptoms of glaucoma are easy to spot but may only last a couple of hours. These attacks become frequent and every attack decreases your field of vision.

Glaucoma Treatment

The best glaucoma treatment is early diagnosis. You should see your eye care practitioner for a complete eye examination at least every two years. People who are at high risk including those with a family history should see their eye care practitioner more frequently.

Glaucoma treatment can include decreasing the aqueous humor production, increasing fluid drainage, or a combination of both. This glaucoma treatment will not restore any vision that you may have already lost.

Glaucoma treatment also includes the use of beta-blocker eye drops which help to lower the fluid production in the eyes. There are also alternatives to beta-blockers for people who can’t use these. You should discuss this with your practitioner.

Glaucoma surgery is also an option and for more glaucoma information and the treatments available you should contact your eye care specialist.

 
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Optics Place Site. Please see Medical Disclaimer