Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults over age 60, but early detection and treatment can often prevent vision loss. The team at Goetzinger Eye Institute diagnoses and treats glaucoma at their convenient locations in Riverdale, Georgia. To learn more about glaucoma prevention and treatment, call or book an appointment online today.
Glaucoma Q & A
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages your optic nerve, which is essential for good vision. This damage typically occurs when fluid builds up in your eye and increases pressure on your optic nerve.
There are different types of glaucoma, many of which have no warning signs. By the time you notice a change in your vision, the disease may already be at an advanced stage.
Fortunately, the team at Goetzinger Eye Institute offers simple screening tests, such as retinal imaging, to detect early signs of glaucoma. Early detection helps prevent or delay vision loss.
What are the types of glaucoma?
There are two main types of glaucoma:
Primary open-angle glaucoma
This is the most common type of glaucoma. This disease develops when your eye doesn’t drain fluid as well as it should and causes pressure to build up.
Primary open-angle glaucoma comes on gradually and usually doesn’t cause pain or vision loss at first. Without treatment, this disease leads to slow and progressive loss of peripheral (side) vision. The best way to discover early signs of glaucoma is to have regular eye exams at Goetzinger Eye Institute.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
This type of glaucoma is an eye emergency that requires immediate medical care. Angle-closure glaucoma involves an acute attack of symptoms, including:
- Sudden blurry vision
- Severe eye pain
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seeing halos or rainbows
Acute angle-closure glaucoma attacks happen when your iris blocks the drainage angle in your eye, similar to a piece of paper sliding over a sink drain.
How is glaucoma diagnosed and treated?
First, your provider at Goetzinger Eye Institute reviews your medical history and performs a comprehensive eye exam. To diagnose glaucoma, they may perform several tests, including:
- Visual field test to check for peripheral vision loss
- Retinal imaging or pupil dilation to look for optic nerve damage
- Tonometry to measure the pressure inside your eye
Then, they create a personalized treatment plan for your specific conditions. Damage to your optic nerve isn’t reversible, but treatment and regular exams at Goetzinger Eye Institute can slow or prevent vision loss.
Treatment may include eye drops, oral medications, or surgical procedures to assist fluid drainage in your eye.
To find out if you have glaucoma, call Goetzinger Eye Institute or book an appointment online today.