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What is Glaucoma?

The optic nerve is responsible for carrying information from the eye to the brain, so when that nerve is impaired, you can lose your vision. Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve.

 

Slowly Stealing Your Sight

Glaucoma can cause blindness when it is left untreated. Known as one of the leading causes of blindness in adults, it is commonly referred to as the “silent thief of sight” because the condition does not usually show any symptoms until the disease has progressed to the point of major vision loss.

Protect Your Sight

Annual eye exams are essential for recognizing glaucoma in its early stages. With early detection and proper treatment, you can preserve your sight. During an eye evaluation, you will undergo a series of painless tests:

  1. Dilated eye exams
  2. Eye pressure measurements
  3. Visual field testing
  4. Optic Nerve Imaging
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Types of Glaucoma

Affecting both eyes at the same time, Open-Angle Glaucoma (most common) is described as the chronic, progressive degeneration of the eye’s optic nerve.

Closed-Angle Glaucoma (less common) manifests several symptoms acutely, including eye pain, colored halos around lights, blurring of vision, and nausea and vomiting.

 

Glaucoma Treatment Options

Although vision loss cannot be reversed, glaucoma can be treated by slowing down the rate of its progression as early as possible.

Special eye drops are prescribed to reduce intraocular pressure; these drops can be applied once or multiple times a day, depending on the prescription.

Laser treatment or surgery may be required when the drops no longer have the same impact, although there are cases where surgery is the first option.

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