What is Glaucoma?
Glacoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve causing severe vision loss without many noticeable symptoms or warning signs. Damage to the optic never can occur when eye pressure increases. This usually occurs from a build-up of fluids inside the eye. This increased pressure can lead to blind spots in a patient’s vision. These blind spots usually go undetected by the patient until the optic nerve is damaged so severely that the patient loses most of the peripheral and central vision. A visual field evaluation can detect the early stages of Glaucoma. If the disease is left untreated it can damage the nerve to the point where irreversible blindness will occur.
Symptoms & Treatment
Patients suffering from Glaucoma do not generally know that they are slowly loosing their vision until it is too late. That is why it is important to get yearly tests to determine the health of your eye. If the disease has progressed, patients will notice that their peripheral vision is decreasing, and they are having a harder time seeing clearly, or driving at night.
Treatment for glaucoma involves prescription eye drops to lower the pressure in the eye. Each patient will need to undergo a specialized treatment process, so it is important to speak with Dr. Stephenson directly in order to determine how she will treat your Glaucoma.
Am I at risk for Glaucoma?
Glaucoma can impact anyone, and everyone should be concerned about the possibility of this disease affecting vision. Early detection is key in order to prevent complete and permanent vision loss.
Certain people are more at risk for glaucoma including:
- Adults over the age of 50
- People of African-American descent
- People with high intraocular pressure
- People with diabetes
- People who have a family history of glaucoma
It is important to undergo routine comprehensive eye exams where Dr. Stephenson can perform a visual field evaluation to determine if you are suffering from glaucoma. Contact Dr. Stephenson at 941.485.1121 to schedule your appointment!
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