Glaucoma

The silent disease that can steal your eyesight

Glaucoma is an eye disease occurring when the drainage canals in the eyes clog up, causing a buildup in the internal pressure in your eyes. This pressure buildup causes damage to the optic nerve, which can reduce your vision and eventually lead to blindness.

Nearly three million people in the U.S. have glaucoma, and as many as 80,000 have lost their vision because of it.

No one knows exactly what causes glaucoma, but those at higher risk of the disease include African Americans over age 40, people over age 60, people who are very nearsighted and people who have diabetes. Most types of glaucoma develop gradually and without symptoms. In the later stages of the disease, a person with glaucoma may notice a decrease in side vision, see halos around lights, or experience pain or redness in the eyes.

Visual Field Analyzer: looks for any defects in the field of vision that can be caused by medical or eye related conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes, or macular degeneration.

Although glaucoma is not preventable, it can be controlled through medications such as eye drops. Laser treatment or surgery are sometimes used to create or open fluid drainage passages in the eyes.

Glaucoma is best treated in the early stages, so it’s important to have your eyes examined on a regular basis, especially if you are in a high-risk group. Your optometrist will use diagnostic tests and examine the insides of your eyes and the optic nerves to determine if there are any signs of glaucoma.

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