We love to educate our patients on the different types of eye conditions so they can be aware and conscious of the early signs. The more you know about your eyes, the earlier you can diagnose an issue. This month we want to shed some light on Glaucoma. January was Glaucoma Awareness month, so what better time to brush up on what this eye condition is and the warning signs to look out for.
What is it?
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. It is a disease where damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss.
There are two main types of Glaucoma:
1. Open Angle
This is the most common form of the disease and is caused by pressure that damages the optic nerve.
2. Angle Closure
This form of this disease makes the pressure inside your eye go up suddenly.
Getting your yearly eye exam is a fantastic way to catch this condition early before damage can begin. During an eye exam, an eye doctor can determine if there are risk factors for glaucoma before any proven damage to the optic nerve can happen. If this is the case, your eye doctor would tell you that you are a Glaucoma Suspect.
What to look out for
Unfortunately, it is completely possible to have Glaucoma and you do not realize it. Sometimes there are no symptoms, and it can only be by your eye doctor’s diagnosis. All the more reason to make sure to schedule your regular eye exams. This will help your doctor to catch these things early.
Treatment
If you have Glaucoma, you and your doctor will come up with the right treatment for your situation. There currently is no cure for it, and if your vision is regressing it cannot be regained. It is, however, possible to stop progression and further damage once diagnosed. Depending on your situation your eye doctor will either prescribe medication and/or surgery in order to stop its progression.
Glaucoma is a risk that everyone faces. Regardless of your age, gender, and race, anyone can be diagnosed with Glaucoma. The best way to combat its effects of it is to catch it early. The best way to catch it early is to schedule regular eye exams throughout your life.
Call TriCounty Eye Associates today to schedule an appointment so we can help to preserve your eyesight!