Glaucoma Services
Glaucoma is a common eye condition where the loss of sight starts at the sides and continues toward the center until a small field or "tunnel" of vision remains. Eventually all vision may be lost, resulting in blindness. Sight lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, but glaucoma can usually be controlled if it is detected in time.
A Look at Two Types of Glaucoma
There are many different varieties of glaucoma, but the most common are chronic open angle and acute closed angle glaucoma.
Chronic glaucoma, the most prevalent type, is painless. It slowly destroys vision without warning. By the time a vision problem is noticeable, irreversible damage may have occurred. Chronic glaucoma can be detected through a routine eye exam. Because it is silent and strikes adults, it is important for people over 35 to have a periodic eye exam.
Acute glaucoma is marked by a sudden, severe pain in and around the eye, sharply decreased vision, nausea and vomiting, and halos around lights. Acute glaucoma can lead to blindness in less than 24 hours. To alleviate the pressure, emergency treatment is required. Surgery or laser treatment may also be necessary to prevent further attacks. In cases where a predisposition is detected, surgery can prevent an attack from happening.
Watch Out for These Warning Signs
While glaucoma can occur without warning, any one of the following symptoms is possible and warrants a complete eye exam.
Rainbow colored halos around lights. Narrowing of your vision. Frequent changes in prescription glasses without improving vision. Abnormally poor vision in dim light. Fuzzy or blurred vision which may come and go. Headaches, especially after watching TV or movies in the dark.
A serious eye disease that usually strikes adults 35 years and older, glaucoma is caused by a build-up of pressure inside the eye. This excessive pressure can cause the retinal cells and optic nerve fibers to die. Left untreated, glaucoma may lead to total, irreversible blindness.
Glaucoma is often called the "sneak thief of sight" because, in its most common form, it progresses gradually before victims realize they're losing their sight.
