Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that can eventually lead to vision impairment and blindness because of excess fluid pressure building up in the eye that damages the optic nerve. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop or slow the progression of the disease, but since the early symptoms usually go unnoticed, it’s important to have regular eye checkups with us.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an umbrella term for several different conditions that damage the optic nerve through excess pressure. The most common form is open-angle glaucoma, which has few, if any, symptoms in its early stages.
As the disease progresses, symptoms like these may start to appear:
- Blind patches in your peripheral (side) vision
- Vision impairments in the central field of view in later stages
Other types of glaucoma include:
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma (headaches, eye pain, redness, blurry vision, nausea, seeing halos around lights)
- Normal-tension glaucoma (peripheral vision gradually becomes blurred)
- Pigmentary glaucoma (Vision may blur during exercise, halos appear around lights, peripheral vision loss)
- Childhood glaucoma (Frequent blinking, cloudy eyes, blurry vision, headaches, worsening nearsightedness, teary eyes when the child is not crying)
Glaucoma can happen to anyone, but people over 60, people who have had an eye injury, and those who have a family history of glaucoma have a higher risk. During regular eye exams, your Auburn optometrist can monitor your eye health to catch signs of glaucoma that have not started causing you symptoms.
Glaucoma Treatment in Auburn
Although there is currently no cure for glaucoma, if caught early, we can slow or even stop the progression of the disease to save your vision for as long as possible. Treatment for glaucoma will depend on your specific diagnosis and any other medical conditions you may be experiencing. Some treatments may include
- Medicines to reduce fluid pressure in the eye
- Surgery to drain excess fluid from the eye
- Laser surgery
- Cataract surgery
Schedule an Eye Exam with the Optometrist Auburn Trusts for Glaucoma Treatment
Don’t wait for symptoms of glaucoma! Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of glaucoma can help you maintain your vision for as long as possible. Schedule an eye exam today!
