Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in America. Worryingly, it does not show any symptoms until vision loss has already started. While there is no cure for glaucoma, it can be detected early and treated to prevent it from getting worse.
It is important to note anyone can develop glaucoma. Even children and babies can develop a form of glaucoma. The illness is more likely for certain people, including:
- People 60-years-old and older.
- People with a family history of glaucoma.
- People who are of African, Asian, or Hispanic heritage.
- People who have had an eye injury.
There are several types of glaucoma, but the most common are: open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma.
Open-angle glaucoma is the most common, and occurs when pressure builds up in the eye. If ocular fluid cannot drain quickly enough, it can lead to pressure building up in the eye, which can damage the optic nerve. 90% of glaucoma cases are open-angle.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency that may bring on severe eye pain, red eye, blurry vision, and nausea. Angle-closure glaucoma prevents fluid from properly draining from the eye, leading to a rapid build-up of fluid. This can lead to a fast spike in eye pressure. Left untreated, this glaucoma can cause blindness within days. If you believe you have angle-closure glaucoma, you should immediately contact a doctor or go to an emergency room.
Secondary glaucoma is caused by another medical condition, such as trauma, inflammation in the eyes, diabetes, or extra material being deposited within the eye that prevents fluid drainage.
Glaucoma symptoms are easy to miss as most people don’t realize they’re losing their vision until the damage has already occurred. Glaucoma starts by limiting peripheral (or side) vision, and eventually progresses to central vision. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which is how information from the eye gets to the brain. Once the optic nerve is damaged, there is no way to repair it. The vision lost cannot be restored. However, glaucoma’s progression can be slowed.
Early detection is key to slowing this eye disease’s progression. You should not wait until you notice symptoms to get examined. The only way to definitively detect glaucoma is by undergoing a comprehensive dilated eye exam. This simple exam involves your eye doctor putting drops in the eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupils. This allows the physician to see more of the back of the eye and determine if there are any problems or signs of damage from glaucoma. It is recommended people in the previously-mentioned groups above get a dilated eye exam every one or two years. Speak with your eye doctor about how often you should get this test performed.
Primary treatment for glaucoma is eye drops. These are used to better help the eye drain fluids to reduce pressure on the eye. Depending on the type of glaucoma and the condition of the eye, laser or traditional surgery may also be treatment options. Speak with a physician about your condition and treatment.
It is important to speak to a professional about glaucoma concerns. Make an appointment to meet with one of Lexington Clinic’s board-certified ophthalmologists to determine an individualized plan of treatment for you. Lexington Clinic’s ophthalmologists are experts at treating glaucoma and many other eye conditions and offer a number of treatments. The earlier you act with glaucoma, the sooner you can prevent degradation of your eyesight.
About Michael Newcomb, MD
Dr. Newcomb is board-certified in Ophthalmology. He provides services in comprehensive ophthalmology for adults; diagnosis, management, and surgical treatment of glaucoma; diagnosis, management and laser treatment of diabetic retinopathy; small incision cataract surgery.
Dr. Newcomb can be reached at (859) 258-5310. For help scheduling an appointment, or to find the location closest to you, call (859) 258-4362, or visit LexingtonClinic.com.
