Fill out our form to schedule your free LASIK exam.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness which affects approximately 1 in 50 adults. Although glaucoma can occur at any age, the risk of developing the disease increases dramatically after the age of 35. It is more likely to develop in persons with a family history of the disease, severe near sightedness, diabetics, and in African-Americans. Because the early symptoms of glaucoma are slight and the progression occurs over many years, the disease often goes unnoticed until permanent vision loss occurs. However, with early diagnosis and treatment, vision loss from glaucoma can be prevented.

What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a collection of diseases where eye pressure damages the optic nerve. Damage to the optic nerve causes blind spots in the field of vision, and may eventually lead to complete blindness. When light enters the eye, it is focused and absorbed by the retina. The retina then converts it to electrical impulses which are transmitted to the brain through the optic nerve. If the optic nerve suffers damage from glaucoma it will transmit these impulses, resulting in decreased vision or blindness.

What causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is usually caused by an increase in the fluid pressure inside the eye. The front part of the eye contains a clear, nourishing fluid called aqueous which constantly circulates through the eye. Normally this fluid leaves the eye through a drainage system called the trabecular meshwork to return to the blood stream. Pressure increases if the aqueous fluid is overproduced or if the drainage system becomes blocked or clogged. The reason for this blockage differentiates the different types of glaucoma.

By far the most common type of glaucoma is Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma. In this type of glaucoma the drainage system is gradually blocked with age, causing eye pressure to slowly build. This type of glaucoma is usually asymptomatic until late in the disease unless it is discovered during an eye examination. Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma occurs when the drainage system is suddenly and completely blocked. This causes a rapid, painful increase in eye pressure. Common symptoms include pain, redness, headache, blurred vision, and halos around lights. This is an emergency and requires immediate treatment from an eye specialist. Other less common types of glaucoma include Congenital Glaucoma caused by developmental anomalies at birth, or secondary glaucoma due to infection, inflammation, drugs, or scar tissue.

What are the symptoms of Open Angle Glaucoma?
The early symptoms of Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma, the most common type, are usually unnoticeable. In most cases the build up of pressure is gradual without any discomfort or pain. Peripheral vision is usually lost first, and most people do not detect a change in their vision due to the fact that our visual fields overlap in both eyes. Therefore, vision loss in one eye is compensated by the other eye. Eventually, when both eyes are affected and field loss overlaps, patients start to notice vision loss. Since the loss is irreversible, it is much better to have regular eye exams to detect glaucoma before advanced disease occurs.

How is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
In most cases, glaucoma is detected in a routine eye exam before any visual problems are experienced. Pressure is checked routinely at Atlantic Eye Institute and is a painless test of the “hardness” of the eye using a tonometer. This is a more accurate and more comfortable test than the older “puff of air” test you may have experienced. Other measures of glaucoma include a careful exam of the appearance of the optic nerve. Glaucoma causes a characteristic “cupping” of the nerve which your doctor can detect. Atlantic Eye Institute has the latest technology with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) which provides a detailed “CAT scan of the nerve” which can be used to monitor and diagnose early glaucoma. Finally, visual field tests are performed to detect subtle peripheral vision loss that may otherwise go unnoticed.

How is Glaucoma Treated?
With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can almost always be controlled and vision preserved; however, glaucoma cannot be cured and once vision has been lost it cannot be restored. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are critical to maintaining good vision in glaucoma. Treatments include medications (eye drops), laser eye surgery, and conventional eye surgery. The most common first line treatment is medication in the form of eye drops which are taken daily. If medications fail to adequately lower eye pressure, Atlantic Eye Institute uses the most advanced glaucoma laser treatment, Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) to safely and effectively lower eye pressure. In rare cases a combination of medication and laser is unable to control eye pressure and prevent vision loss; in these cases glaucoma surgery may become necessary.

Prevention is the best medicine.
Vision loss from glaucoma is permanent but can be prevented with early detection and treatment. If you have risk factors or are over the age of 35, we recommend routine eye exams to monitor for and prevent vision loss from glaucoma. If you think you may have symptoms from glaucoma you should have a complete eye exam immediately.

Go Back to Medical Eye Care.

Download Our Patient Forms!