Glaucoma is a condition that affects nearly three million Americans and many more around the world. It is the second leading cause of global blindness.
Let’s take a look at glaucoma, what it is, how it develops, and how it can be treated.
Glaucoma is best managed with the help of a professional. Book an appointment at Couture Optical today to get a dilated eye exam and keep track of your visual health.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases which slowly damages a nerve in the rear of the eye called the optic nerve. Glaucoma can cause vision problems and ultimately lead to vision loss. The condition often progresses gradually, and the symptoms can be difficult to notice as they tend to manifest very slowly.
Glaucoma primarily affects the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain, and can therefore have serious consequences for visual health. An increase in inner-eye pressure has been associated with glaucoma and certain treatments can target this aspect of the condition, but it is also possible to have a case of glaucoma while pressure inside the eye remains normal.
The most common form is a type known as open angle glaucoma that results in a gradual increase of pressure in the eye.
Who Does it Affect?
Glaucoma can affect anyone, but there are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition. African Americans over the age of 40, and Hispanic/Latino Americans over the age of 60 are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma than others. Open angle glaucoma, the most common type, is also hereditary, which means that you have an increased risk of developing glaucoma if a parent or grandparent also has the condition.
Signs and Symptoms
While symptoms for glaucoma can develop too slowly for most people to notice, there are some signs to watch out for. Below are the signs and symptoms for some common types of glaucoma:
Open Angle Glaucoma
- Patchy spots in peripheral vision
- Difficulty seeing in your central vision
Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma
- Blurred vision
- Severe headaches
- Severe eye pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Colored rings around bright sources of light
- Red eyes
If you are experiencing symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma, seek medical attention immediately.
Glaucoma in Children
- A dull or cloudy eye (infants)
- Increased blinking (infants)
- Tears without crying (infants)
- Blurred vision
- Nearsightedness that gets worse
- Headache
Glaucoma Prevention and Treatment
While there is no way to prevent glaucoma outright, there are treatments available to prevent glaucoma from worsening and to prevent loss of vision. The most common form of treatment is medication, such as prescription eyedrops. These are used to help lower the pressure in the eye and therefore limit the amount of damage done to the optic nerve.
Another option is laser treatment to help lower pressure in the eye by helping to drain excess fluid. The final option is the surgical route. This is the least common type of treatment for glaucoma, but your doctor may suggest it if laser treatment and medication are proving ineffective.
While these treatments can differ in style and severity, they are all similar in that they all seek to alleviate pressure in the eye, and therefore limit any damage to the optic nerve.
How Can Couture Optical Help?
A dilated eye exam is a procedure where your optometrist will use eye drops to dilate your pupils, and then conduct a thorough eye exam to look for any signs of glaucoma. The procedure is simple and painless and you should have an eye exam with your optometrist once a year to keep track of your visual health and any issues that may arise, such as glaucoma.
As with many other visual health issues, early detection is key to effective treatment and management, which makes your annual eye exam critical to strong visual health.
If signs of glaucoma are detected, we will guide you through the next steps and provide you with Dr. Maya Filshtinskaya at Couture Optical answers to all of your questions.
Looking to take charge of your visual health? Book an appointment today with to be screened for glaucoma.