Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in people over age 60. This significant condition damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain and is vital for good vision. Glaucoma poses a threat to your eyesight—and can ultimately lead to permanent vision loss. It typically happens when fluid builds up in the front of an eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in the eye, injuring the optic nerve. Most people don’t notice their glaucoma symptoms until they have lost some of their peripheral vision.
It’s imperative to get regular eye checkups for early detection and treatment of glaucoma before long-term vision loss poses a threat. At the offices of South Florida Eye Health, our team of highly skilled team will handle your case with care and employ regular testing and treatments designed to maintain or restore your healthy vision.
There are two main types of glaucoma.
Open-angle is the most common and happens gradually. The eye doesn’t drain fluid properly (it’s like a clogged drain). Consequently, eye pressure builds and starts to damage the optic nerve. It’s painless and at first causes no vision changes. Some people’s optic nerves are sensitive to normal eye pressure, which means that their risk of getting glaucoma is higher than normal.
Angle-closure (also called “closed-angle” or “narrow-angle”) is less common but an emergency. It happens when the iris is very close to the drainage angle and partially hinders the drainage angle. But when the drainage angle gets completely blocked, though, eye pressure rises quickly. Call an ophthalmologist right away or risk going blind.
The signs of an acute angle-closure glaucoma attack:
Lost vision due to glaucoma can’t be recovered. Treatment targets lowering eye pressure with prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of them.
The office of South Florida Eye Health provides the highest quality of skilled and compassionate eye care for a wide range of conditions, including glaucoma. For more information about our many services, please call us today.
