Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S. One of the concerns about glaucoma is that many people are unaware of any symptoms during the earliest stages. Vision loss linked to this disorder is permanent. That’s why it’s critical to have a regular eye exam to catch any early signs before they can progress. Our eye doctors at Optical Expressions can help you find a treatment that preserves your vision for as long as possible.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is caused by a failure of the eye’s drainage system to function properly. Pressure within an affected eye rises quickly as the fluid fails to drain adequately. This pressure can permanently damage the optic nerve. If left unchecked and untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness since it’s incurable.

Types of Glaucoma

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Patients with open-angle glaucoma, the more frequent type, usually experience no symptoms until they have lost some vision. Blind spots may occur in the central or the side visual field. This results in tunnel vision and is typical among open-angle sufferers.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma occurs after a complete shutdown of drainage. Patients with the angle-closure glaucoma are likely to experience blurred vision, headaches, eye pain, halos surrounding lights, red eyes, nausea, and vomiting.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Age greater than 50

Family history

Thin sections in the center of corneas

Above-normal intraocular pressure

Severe nearsightedness or farsightedness

Asian, African-American, or Hispanic ethnicity

Prior injury to an eye

Extended corticosteroid use

Certain eye surgeries

Treatment Options

As soon as you notice glaucoma symptoms like vision fogginess or cloudiness, contact our doctors immediately to set up an appointment. Small symptoms can result in peripheral vision loss. Our eye doctors will check for signs of this and other diseases with a comprehensive optometry exam.

If tonometry indicates above-normal internal eye pressure, we’ll run more tests to find the right treatment. Each patient’s treatment depends on the progression of the disease. Treatment options include: