Glaucoma is a serious condition of the eye that occurs when increased pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve. Because glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss, it is essential that you schedule annual visits with Family Vision Clinic. Our optometrist in Farmington will assess your condition to determine whether or not you are suffering from glaucoma and provide treatment accordingly.
Types of Glaucoma
There are two types of glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common. It occurs when the fluid in your eyes drains slowly, similar to a clogged drain. When the fluid cannot drain properly, it causes an increase in eye pressure. Angle-closure glaucoma is less common but more severe. It occurs when the fluid cannot drain from the eyes, causing a rapid spike in eye pressure.
Glaucoma Symptoms
Open-angle glaucoma often shows no early symptoms. As the condition progresses, loss of peripheral vision can occur. Over time, tunnel vision and permanent blindness are possible. Due to the rapid increase in eye pressure, angle-closure glaucoma causes severe symptoms including:
- Severe eye pain
- Severe headaches
- Blurry vision
- Redness of the eyes
- Seeing halos around lights
- Nausea and vomiting
Who Is at Risk for Glaucoma?
Anyone can get glaucoma. However, some factors can increase your chances of getting this disease.
- Being over 60
- Having high intraocular pressure
- Family history of glaucoma
- Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, sickle cell anemia
- Being extremely farsighted or nearsighted
- Having corneas that are thin in the center
- Being African-American, Hispanic, or Asian
- Previous eye injury or eye surgery
- Long-term use of corticosteroid medications
Diagnosing Glaucoma
Our eye doctor can diagnose glaucoma during your annual eye exam. During a typical exam, our optometrist will check the pressure in your eyes using tonometry. If it is elevated, we will perform further tests to confirm the diagnosis. Glaucoma eye exams include:
- Gonioscopy to inspect the drainage angle
- Pachymetry to measure corneal thickness
- Topcon Maestro2: an automated optical coherence tomography system with a fundus camera, which can check or glaucoma and other conditions of the eye
- Visual field test to check for areas of vision loss
Treating Glaucoma
Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma. However, there treatment options available to slow the progression of the disease and prevent vision loss from occurring. As the condition progresses, treatment may include:
- Eye drops
- Laser trabeculoplasty
- Filtering surgery
- Drainage tubes
- Laser iridotomy
Contact Our Optometrist in Farmington for Glaucoma Treatment
Because glaucoma is such a serious disease, early detection is crucial. For more information on glaucoma treatment or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor, call Family Vision Clinic Farmington today at (651) 463-2020.