Often called the “silent thief of sight,” glaucoma typically develops without symptoms until the late stages. Knowing your risk factors and its early symptoms can help curb your chances of developing glaucoma or address it early on before it progresses severely.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a term used to identify a group of similar optical diseases damaging the optic nerve. This essential nerve connects the eye to the brain, and any damage can interfere with the brain’s ability to process visual information. An increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) exacerbates this damage. However, in some cases, glaucoma can develop even with normal IOP.
Are There Different Types of Glaucoma?
Different types of glaucoma do exist:
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: This common glaucoma type occurs when the eye’s drainage canal is clogged. Over time, pressure builds up, which progressively damages the optic nerve.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma: Also known as closed-angle glaucoma, this less common type occurs when the iris is very close to the drainage angle in the eye, blocking fluid drainage and causing sudden eye pressure spikes.
Normal-Tension Glaucoma: In this type, optic nerve damage occurs despite normal eye pressure. The cause is not fully understood but may be linked to poor blood flow to the optic nerve.
Secondary Glaucoma: This type occurs due to another eye condition or trauma, such as an eye injury, inflammation, or a tumor, which leads to increased eye pressure and optic nerve damage.
Congenital Glaucoma: This rare form is present at birth due to an abnormality in the eye’s drainage system. It often presents with symptoms such as cloudy eyes, tearing, and light sensitivity.
Because early glaucoma is usually symptom-free, many people may not realize they have it until significant vision loss has occurred. Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually lead to complete blindness, making early intervention critical to preserving vision.
Are You at Risk? Key Risk Factors for Glaucoma
Certain factors increase the risk of developing glaucoma. Understanding these factors can help you proactively protect your eye health.
Age: People over 60 are at higher risk, although glaucoma can develop at any age.
Family History: Glaucoma is usually genetic, making it important for individuals with a family history of the disease to get regular check-ups.
Ethnicity: People of African, Hispanic, and Asian descent have a higher likelihood of developing glaucoma.
Medical Conditions: Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease can increase glaucoma risk.
Prolonged Use of Certain Medications: Long-term use of corticosteroid medications, especially eye drops, has been linked to an increased risk of glaucoma.
Early Detection and Regular Eye Exams Keep Glaucoma Risks at Bay
Because glaucoma can develop without noticeable symptoms, regular eye exams are essential for early detection. Optometrists and ophthalmologists can use various tests to check for glaucoma, including measuring eye pressure, assessing the optic nerve, and performing visual field tests.
Annual or biannual eye exams are recommended, especially for high-risk individuals. Early diagnosis allows for more effective management, preventing significant vision loss and preserving eye health for the long term.
Potential Glaucoma Treatments
While there is no direct cure for glaucoma, various treatment options can manage it, slowing or halting the progression and protecting vision. The goal of treatment is to lower intraocular pressure to a level that prevents further optic nerve damage.
Prescription Eye Drops: Medications like prostaglandins and rho kinase inhibitors help reduce pressure buildup in the eye by decreasing fluid production or improving fluid drainage.
Laser Therapy: Laser treatments can help improve fluid drainage in the eye, lowering IOP. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) are the most common laser treatment options for glaucoma management.
Surgery: Surgery may be necessary when medications and laser treatments are inefficient. Trabeculectomy, drainage implants, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) are just some of the types of surgery that can be done for glaucoma.
Staying on top of medication schedules, attending all follow-up appointments, and communicating with an eye care professional about any side effects or vision changes are vital steps to keeping glaucoma under control.
In Conclusion
Glaucoma may not be entirely curable, but there’s a chance it can be prevented from happening. Early detection plays a critical role in preventing the progression of the disease, and with treatments ranging from medications to laser therapies and surgery, managing glaucoma has become more effective than ever.
If you want to know your glaucoma risk, and you live in the San Francisco area, contact us to book your eye exam.
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