Glaucoma

UNDERSTANDING GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S. and the leading cause of preventable blindness. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 3 million Americans age 40 and older have glaucoma.  More than half of these people do not even realize they have the disease because there are often no warning signs. Glaucoma is known as the “silent-thief” of sight because loss of peripheral (side) vision is not readily apparent. For all of these reasons, regular eye examinations are important as you age.

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss - often without warning and symptoms. Like a cable wire, the optic nerve is responsible for carrying the images we see to the brain. Damage to the optic nerve can occur when the pressure within the eye increases, usually due to a build-up of aqueous fluid inside the eye. This leads to the development of blind spots in our field of vision. However, damage may occur without elevation of the intra-ocular pressure. Conversely, the pressure may at times be elevated without damaging the optic nerve. This is a condition known as Ocular Hypertension. Blind spots in the field of vision usually go undetected by th individual until the optic nerve is significantly damaged and a great loss of peripheral or central vision has occurred. A visual field evaluation can detect glaucomatous damage in its very early stages. If the disease is untreated the optic nerve may be damaged to a point that irreversible blindness will result.

Treatment options may be medical or surgical. They include: eyedrops (and in rare instances, oral medication), laser surgery and sometimes other procedures to lower the eye pressure.

Please consult Dr. Talamo or Dr. Paris if you are concerned about glaucoma or have a family history. We will be happy to check for glaucoma and suggest a treatment protocol if glaucoma is present.