Glaucoma

Changing lives by preserving vision.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition that results in damage to the optic nerve. This can lead to vision loss and even blindness. It is caused by an increase in pressure inside the eye, which puts stress on the optic nerve. Although glaucoma can occur at any age, it is more common in older adults. There are several different types of glaucoma, each with its own set of symptoms. Glaucoma can be treated with medication or surgery, but it is important to catch it early to prevent vision loss. If you think you might have glaucoma, see your eye doctor for a diagnosis.

Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?

Everyone has some risk of glaucoma. It is important for everyone to have routine eye exams to look for the early signs of glaucoma. The risk for glaucoma is increased with these factors:

What Causes Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss – often without warning or symptoms. Like a cable wire, the optic nerve is responsible for carrying the images we see to the brain. Damage to the optic nerve can occur when the pressure within the eye increases, usually due to a build-up of aqueous fluid inside the eye. This leads to the development of blind spots in our field of vision. However, damage may occur without elevation of the intra-ocular pressure. Conversely, the pressure may at times be elevated without damaging the optic nerve. This is a condition known as Ocular Hypertension. Blind spots in the field of vision usually go undetected by the individual until the optic nerve is significantly damaged and a great loss of peripheral or central vision has occurred. A Visual Field evaluation can detect glaucoma damage in its very early stages. If the disease is untreated the optic nerve may be damaged to a point that irreversible blindness will result.

Most people with glaucoma suffer from one of two major types of the disease, “open angle” and “closed angle” glaucoma.

Glaucoma Treatment Options

If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, treatment is available to save your vision. The primary goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) and stop the optic nerve damage. Several kinds of treatment are available to lower IOP. These include eye drops, laser therapy, and surgery.

Request an Appointment Now!

Our qualified glaucoma doctors will diagnose and properly set a treatment option in place. Call us today for more information on how we can help with the glaucoma eye disease.

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