Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disorder affecting the optic nerve. Your brain receives information about what you see through the optic nerve, then translates it to create images. Glaucoma develops when there's an imbalance in the internal ocular pressure (IOP) within your eye, which damages the optic nerve.

Without treatment, glaucoma can lead to blindness in the space of a few years. The disease is a leading cause of vision loss throughout the world, but an early diagnosis can prevent blindness.

Are there different types of glaucoma?

There are two different types of glaucoma:

Open-angle glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma (also known as wide-angle glaucoma) is the most widespread type. If you have open-angle glaucoma, your eye looks healthy. However, inside your eyeball fluid isn't flowing properly through the filter of the trabecular meshwork.

Angle-closure glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma (also known as narrow-angle glaucoma) is less common than open-angle glaucoma. This type of glaucoma can develop due to poor drainage in your eye when the angle formed by your cornea and iris is too narrow.

A pupil that opens too wide can also narrow this angle and prevent fluid from flowing properly. Angle-closure glaucoma can lead to a sudden buildup of pressure in your eye.

What symptoms does glaucoma cause?

Glaucoma often causes no symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. You might experience problems due to very high IOP levels, such as:

• Seeing halos around lights
• Tunnel vision
• Red eyes
• Eyes that appear hazy
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain in your eye
• Loss of vision

These are symptoms that require immediate attention. It's advisable to attend regular screenings at the 2020 Family Vision to prevent glaucoma from reaching this advanced stage.

What does screening for glaucoma involve?

Screening for glaucoma could involve tests to measure your IOP. In one test, a machine puffs air onto your eye. Another test uses a different device to carefully touch the surface of your eye (after the application of numbing eye drops).

The team can also perform visual field tests to see if there's any problem with your sight that you may not be aware of.

While these tests are proven methods of measuring IOP, a high reading doesn't confirm glaucoma. The 2020 Family Vision team uses cutting edge technology called optical coherence tomography (OCT) to verify whether you have glaucoma.

OCT is a non-invasive imaging test that takes cross-sectional pictures of your retina using light waves. OCT is available full-time for testing and diagnosis at 2020 Family Vision.

How is glaucoma treated?

Eye drops are typically an effective treatment for glaucoma. Your provider shows you how to use your glaucoma eye drops at your diagnostic consultation, and you also attend follow up visits to monitor your condition.

If eye drops aren't controlling your glaucoma, the 2020 Family Vision team can refer you for surgery to relieve the pressure inside your eyeball.

To arrange a glaucoma screening or eye exam, call 2020 Family Vision today or book an appointment online.