Glaucoma: What You Need to Know

1. What is Glaucoma?

This eye disease causes damage to your optic nerve, resulting in slow vision loss. The cause of vision loss is a pressure buildup on the optic nerve due to fluid not draining properly from the eyes.

2. Who can get glaucoma?

Some individuals are more likely to get glaucoma. Those with a family history of glaucoma, glasses, poor vision, diabetes, who take certain steroid medications, or have had trauma to their eyes are more likely to have glaucoma. If you believe you fit into one or more of these categories, make an appointment with your eye doctor to monitor your eyes.

3. The “sneak thief of vision”

This nickname is due to the loss of peripheral vision, resulting in tunnel vision. Many people do not notice the initial loss of peripheral, as it happens slowly over time. Your optometrist will be able to pick up on this easily with tonometry, a painless eye pressure, and field view check. Vu also offers tomography scanning, an optical signal acquisition, and processing method, that enables our optometrists to detect early signs of eye conditions such as glaucoma.

4. Glaucoma is manageable

While we cannot yet prevent glaucoma, it is controllable if detected in its early stages. Depending on what type of glaucoma and the stage of glaucoma, one of or a combination of eye drops, laser surgery or microsurgery can be used.

5. Detection & Treatment

To catch glaucoma before it is too late it is important to visit your optometrist every year. Many people do not experience any symptoms early on, so the only way to detect it is by having regular eye check ups. Once diagnosed, treatments are used to lower pressure prevent any further vision loss. Most patients who follow their treatment plan and visit their eye doctor regularly do not go blind from the disease.

While glaucoma can lead to permanent and total loss of vision, this can be avoided with correct eye treatment plans. You should always make your optometrist aware of any family medical history, as well as your own medical history.

To schedule an appointment with one of our experienced optometrists, call VU.