Glaucoma
Nearly 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma; in fact, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in this country.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a fairly common eye disease. When a person has glaucoma, inner-eye fluid pressure progressively rises, resulting in vision loss and sometimes blindness. The most common form of glaucoma is called open angle glaucoma.
The anterior chamber is a small space at the front of the eye. Normally, fluid flows through this chamber to nourish and to bathe nearby eye tissue. For people with glaucoma, their eyes do not drain this fluid quickly and properly.
If eyes do not drain fluid properly, fluid will build up and the eye pressure rises. Uncontrolled, this rise in pressure can cause optic nerve damage. This ultimately results in vision loss.
Glaucoma Symptoms
At first, people suffering from glaucoma will suffer no symptoms. There is no pain associated with this condition, and in the beginning stages the vision is not affected. However, as the disease progresses, he or she may notice the peripheral vision failing. This means that while the vision to the front will still be clear, objects that are on the side may be missed.
As the disease progresses, the field of vision slowly narrows and eventually blindness results. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, it can be controlled with proper treatment.
Denver Glaucoma Treatment & Laser Surgery
Most people with glaucoma will be able to control the fluid pressure in their eyes through the regular use of medications that reduce pressure inside the eye. These glaucoma medications include eye drops or pills and they are designed to reduce pressure by slowing the flow of fluid into the eye. Some are also designed to help improve drainage from the eye.
Another glaucoma treatment option is laser surgery. During laser surgery, a laser is focused on the part of the eye where the fluid leaves the eye. This results in changes which ultimately make it easier for fluid to drain from the eye. Although laser surgery can successfully treat glaucoma, the effects of laser surgery may wear off and patients may need to have additional surgery or may need to keep taking glaucoma drugs in order to control the glaucoma.
Other types of surgery can also help to reduce pressure from the eye; however, surgery is considered a last option for glaucoma patients whose eye pressure cannot be controlled in other ways.
Contact us today to schedule a free glaucoma treatment evaluation.
Who Develops Glaucoma?
Although anyone is able to develop glaucoma, there are some people at higher risk. People who are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma include:
- Anyone with a family history with glaucoma; this disease is genetic
- African-Americans
- Anyone older than 40