Before You Even Know You Have It, Glaucoma Can Destroy Your Sight!
A regular eye exam can save your sight!
Glaucoma, which is actually a group of diseases, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Glaucoma occurs most often when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes (intraocular pressure or IOP) rises, damaging the neurons that form the optic nerve.
With early treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss. Treatment currently consists of lowering eye pressure through medications, laser, or surgery.
Studies have shown that early detection and treatment of glaucoma, before it causes major vision loss, is the best way to control the disease. So, if you are in a high-risk group for the disease, have your eyes examined thoroughly every two years by an eye care professional.
Risk Factors for Glaucoma
- Family history
- Increased age
- African American heritage
- Nearsightedness
- Increased blood pressure
- Injury to the eye
- Long-term steroid treatment
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Migraines
What are some signs of Glaucoma?
Open-angle Glaucoma: This form of glaucoma has no symptoms in the beginning. It causes no pain. Vision stays normal. It can develop in one or both eyes. Without treatment, patients with open-angleglaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision and may begin missing objects to the side and out of the corner of the eye. Vision will become similar to looking through a tunnel. As the disease progresses, straight-ahead (central) vision can decrease until blindness results. Prompt treatment for early stage, open-angle glaucoma can delay progression of the disease. Regular eye check-ups and screening are essential for early diagnosis and treatment
Chronic Angle-closure Glaucoma: This form of glaucoma also develops slowly. There are no symptoms at first, so patients aren’t aware of it until the damage is severe or they have an attack. Again, regular eye exams and screening are important for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible
Acute Angle-closure Glaucoma: This is an urgent situation and can cause blindness if not treated immediately. It results from a rapid or sudden increase in the pressure inside the eye.
These are signs of an acute angle-closure glaucoma attack:
- Suddenly blurry vision
- Severe eye pain
- Eye redness
- Headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Rainbow-colored rings or halos appear around lights
Seek immediate care from an ophthalmologist if you have any of these warning signs.
Treatments for Glaucoma
Unfortunately, vision lost from glaucoma cannot be restored, which is why early diagnosis and treatment are essential.
At Dallas Eye and Ear, our fellowship-trained ophthalmologists, Linda L. Burk, M.D., and Jane E. Gilmore, M.D., provide expert glaucoma care using the latest treatments and technology.
For patients currently managing glaucoma, it is important to:
- Take prescribed glaucoma medications consistently
- Attend regular follow-up appointments with your eye care professional
Treatment Options:
- Medications (eye drops) to lower eye pressure
- Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), performed in-office to improve fluid drainage
- Surgery, including trabeculectomy or glaucoma tube shunts, in more advanced cases
While these treatments can help preserve your remaining vision, they cannot restore sight already lost to glaucoma. Our goal is to slow or stop progression and protect your vision for the future.