Glaucoma is often referred to as the “silent blinder” because it is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and typically shows no symptoms until your vision is permanently damaged. Getting treatment for your glaucoma is essential for preventing permanent vision loss. At Atlantic Eye Care & Spa in Pompano Beach, FL, we offer glaucoma diagnosis and treatment to protect your eye and vision health. Continue reading to learn more about glaucoma and how we can help treat it.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma occurs when pressure builds up in your eye and causes damage to your optic nerve. Pressure in your eye typically builds up when there is an issue with your eye’s drainage system. The fluid does not drain properly from the eye, which causes excessive pressure. Your optic nerve connects to your retina and gathers the information from your eyes to your brain. You can suffer significant vision loss if the optic nerve gets damaged.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
Glaucoma usually does not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages. The later stages of glaucoma can cause blind spots, tunnel vision, headaches, eye pain, tenderness around the eyes, and blurred vision. You may also experience nausea and vomiting, haziness in the cornea, and seeing halos around lights. Glaucoma can lead to partial or complete blindness if left untreated.
Glaucoma Screening
A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to detect glaucoma. You should get your eyes checked by an optometrist yearly, especially if you are over 60 or have a family history of glaucoma. Your optometrist may measure the pressure in your eye, check your vision, and test for damage to the optic nerve.
Glaucoma Treatment
You cannot reverse the vision loss from glaucoma, but some treatments can slow or halt its progression, such as eye drops, oral medications, and surgery.
Eye drops are typically the first line of glaucoma treatment. Some eye drops will allow more fluid to drain from your eyes, while others will reduce the amount of fluid your eyes produce. Your eye doctor may prescribe more than one type of eye drop if necessary.
Oral medications can also lower the pressure in your eyes. Your eye doctor will prescribe oral medications if eye drops are not decreasing your eye pressure enough.
Surgical treatments are typically the last resort for treating glaucoma, but they can offer you long-lasting care. Laser therapy is a minor surgery you can use instead of eye drops. This surgery improves your eye drainage. An ophthalmologist can perform filtering surgery for glaucoma. They make a small incision in the sclera to give your eyes another drainage route. Drainage tubes and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, or MIGS, are also glaucoma treatment options.
Get Glaucoma Treatment at Atlantic Eye Care & Spa in Pompano Beach, FL
Glaucoma is a significant eye condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated, so contact Atlantic Eye Care & Spa in Pompano Beach, FL, to get the glaucoma treatment you need to keep your eyes and vision strong. Call us and schedule an appointment today at (954) 946-3939 to protect your eyes and vision.
