Glaucoma

Glaucoma... What You Need to Know More than 2.2 million Americans age forty and older have glaucoma, but as many as one half may be unaware they have this potentially blinding disease, because they have no symptoms. Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged. In most cases the condition is associated with elevated pressure inside the eye and can lead to vision loss. The exact cause of primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease, is unknown. However, some of the other forms of glaucoma may occur along with other abnormalities of the eye. There are usually no symptoms at first, but as the disease progresses, a person with glaucoma may notice his or her vision gradually failing with: Blurred vision Loss of peripheral vision Difficulty focusing on objects Presence of halos around lights Although anyone can develop glaucoma, those who are at higher risk and should have an eye exam at least every one to two years include: African Americans over age 40 Individuals over age 50 People with a family history of glaucoma Individuals who have experienced a serious eye injury People with other health conditions, such as diabetes    (exam every year) Importance of Early Detection There are no symptoms. You don’t feel any different. Though some individuals are more at risk than others, it can afflict anyone. It can sneak up on you and steal your most valuable asset... your eyesight. Glaucoma, undetected, can eventually lead to blindness. In the past, ophthalmologists would suspect a problem based on certain telltale signs such as elevated intraocular pressure or a decrease in ones peripheral vision, but by then, glaucoma could already have done significant damage to eyesight. With today’s advanced technology, we have the ability to foresee potential problems well before glaucoma sets in. At Eye Associates of San Diego, we utilize one of the most technologically advanced pieces of ophthalmic diagnostic equipment used today. The OCT or Ocular Coherance Tomography is a sophisticated system that can visualize te individual layers of the retina. We can now directly measure structures in the retina that are susceptible to glaucoma damage at a very early stage, before symptoms arise. That image and analysis then becomes a part of your permanent medical record. On future visits, we can compare images, note any changes, analyze, precisely diagnose, and recommend treatment. Early detection and treatment is the only way to combat vision loss caused by glaucoma. If you’ve noticed change in your vision, or if you haven’t been to the office for a while, and would like to be tested for glaucoma, contact us to set up an apointment today. <-- Back To Eye Diseases