Glaucoma Specialist

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye problems that can result in optic nerve damage and vision loss when left untreated. It’s associated with abnormally high pressure inside the eyes or elevated intraocular pressure. Because glaucoma doesn’t always produce symptoms, routine eye exams, and early glaucoma detection are vital. 

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

You might not have any symptoms with glaucoma, but if you do, you may experience:

• Tunnel vision
• Patchy blind spots
• Severe headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Eye pain
• Halos around light
• Blurred vision
• Eye redness
  
  

Glaucoma can cause blindness if it’s left untreated. Treatment with eye specialists at Suburban Eye Associates can prevent or delay vision loss associated with glaucoma. 

What are the risk factors for glaucoma?

While anyone can develop glaucoma, some factors increase your risk of developing it. Examples include being over age 60, high intraocular pressure, family history of glaucoma, and high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, or other chronic conditions.

Previous eye injuries or surgeries, using certain eye drops long term, extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness, and having thin corneas may also boost your risk of glaucoma. Prevention measures include routine dilated eye exams, eye drops that reduce eye pressure, regular exercise, and wearing eye protection to prevent injuries.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Diagnosing glaucoma includes a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Your eye doctor reviews your medical history, examines your eyes, and might complete several tests that measure intraocular pressure, optic nerve damage, vision loss, corneal thickness, and other signs of glaucoma.

How is glaucoma treated?

Your personalized glaucoma treatment depends on the severity of your condition. Your eye doctor might recommend:

• Eye drops
• Oral medications
• Laser treatment 
• Filtering surgery
• Drainage tubes
• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery
• More than one of these treatments
  
  

While glaucoma treatment doesn’t restore vision, it can prevent future vision changes and blindness, especially when your eye doctor detects glaucoma in its early stage. Undergoing routine eye exams is the best way to find out if you have glaucoma.

If you’re at risk of glaucoma, experience symptoms of the disease, or are due for a routine eye exam, schedule an appointment with the experts at Suburban Eye Associates by phone today.