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Glaucoma
What is glaucoma? Glaucoma
is a serious disease process in which the optic nerve becomes
damaged, for the most part irreversibly.
Glaucoma is the term used when the nerve damage is
typically related to the pressure inside the eye. There are
several types of glaucoma. The
most common type of glaucoma is termed open angle glaucoma,
afflicting nearly one million people and among the leaders of
preventable blindness in the United
States.
Although the cause is not perfectly clear, there are
certain characteristics known to influence or be associated with
glaucoma and can be evaluated by our physicians. Do I have
glaucoma? Symptoms
are generally not present at all in the early stages of open-angle
glaucoma. As the
condition progresses, defects in one’s vision may be noted
perhaps appearing as an overall constriction in the field of view.
The diagnosis of glaucoma is essentially based on a thorough
examination and ancillary testing.
Our thorough examination includes intraocular pressure
measurement, determination of the drainage angle, visualization of
the optic nerve as well as imaging with our HRT
(specialized computer imaging of the nerve), and visual field
testing.
What can be done about glaucoma? Early diagnosis is very important.
The treatment of glaucoma involves appropriate discussion
with the patient, judicious selection of medication, and ancillary
testing, as well as possible intervention using laser surgery or
more involved ocular surgery.
Signs of progression may require more aggressive modes of
treatment. Ophthalmic
eye examinations are recommended every 2 to 4 years if you are age
39 or over; every 1 to 2 years if you are healthy and
Examples of Glaucoma in the eye
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