What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease that occurs when there is an increase in pressure within the eye. If left untreated, this pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve that results in permanent vision loss. In fact, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.
In people with glaucoma, the fluid within the eye does not drain properly. This causes pressure inside the eye to rise and damages the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending information to your brain that allows you to see. This pressure on the optic nerve damages critical nerve tissue.
There are several types of glaucoma, but the most common is chronic open-angle glaucoma. In this condition, pressure builds slowly over time, so you may not be aware of the problem until your optic nerve is already damaged. At first, vision remains normal. As the pressure continues to damage the optic nerve, patients may notice a loss or blurring of their peripheral, or side, vision. If left untreated, the field of vision continues to narrow, leading to eventual blindness.
Are You At Risk?
Glaucoma affects as many as 4 million Americans, or 2% of all adults over the age of 40. Unfortunately, many people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it. There are no symptoms in the early stages. However, glaucoma can be easily diagnosed by your eye care physician and treated to prevent optic nerve damage. This is why regular eye exams for all people over the age of 40 are vitally important.
While anyone can get glaucoma, some people are at an increased risk. These risk factors include:
- Age, the older you get the greater the risk
- People with high blood pressure
- Diabetics
- People with a family history of glaucoma
- Those who have suffered an eye injury
- African Americans, who are five times more likely to develop glaucoma
Early Diagnosis Can Save Your Sight
Glaucoma is easily detected during your regular eye examination by your eye care physician. Gailey Eye Clinic offers the revolutionary GDx Laser Scanner and OCT, advanced diagnostic technologies that are able to detect glaucoma far earlier than traditional testing methods. The GDx Scanner and OCT are fast, comfortable and non-invasive. In a matter of minutes, they identify even the smallest amounts of damage to the optic nerve so treatment can begin to prevent vision loss.
Evaluation with the GDx Laser Scanner is especially recommended for those people who are at increased risk for glaucoma. This technology is also used for monitoring glaucoma patients during treatment to ensure that the condition is being controlled effectively.
Treating Glaucoma
Gailey Eye Clinic offers the latest advances for glaucoma treatment. While there is no cure for the disease, effective treatments can control pressure within the eye and prevent vision loss.
- Medications – A variety of different eye drops and oral medications are used to control glaucoma. However, some of these drugs may stop working over time, or they may cause unpleasant side effects. When a problem occurs, your physician may try a different medication or discuss other treatment options.
- Laser therapy Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) – Used to treat open angle glaucoma. The SLT uses short pulses of energy to target the trabecular meshwork and reduce intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve. SLT does not cause any scarring of the trabecular network and therefore, is a repeatable procedure.
- Tube Implants – Silicone tubes are implanted around the eye to drain the fluid which helps lower eye pressure.
