Over three million people in the country have glaucoma, a vision-threatening eye disease. Vision loss due to glaucoma is irreversible. Fortunately, it can be prevented if detected early. Nova Vision Center, a contact lenses specialist in the area, discusses what causes glaucoma in today’s blog post.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that’s triggered by fluid buildup in the optic nerve, which can be the result of a tumor, diabetes, advanced cataracts or inflammation. Old age, race and eye injuries are some of the risk factors for developing glaucoma.
What Are the Two Types of Glaucoma?
There are two types of glaucoma. The most common type is called open-angle glaucoma. This occurs when the trabecular meshwork, the drain structure in the eye, looks normal, but isn’t draining fluid properly. The second type is angle-closure glaucoma, which occurs when the drain space between your cornea and iris becomes too narrow. This type of glaucoma is often associated with farsightedness and cataracts.
What Are the Symptoms?
People with glaucoma often experience a loss of peripheral or side vision, but often the condition is completely asymptomatic in the early stages, making it difficult to detect. This is why glaucoma is often referred to as “the silent thief of sight.” As the condition progresses, other symptoms include eye pain, headache, blurred vision or the appearance of halos around lights.
Visit your local eye doctor if you experience these symptoms. They will conduct a comprehensive eye exam to determine the extent of vision damage caused by glaucoma.
How Can You Manage Glaucoma?
Your eye doctor may be able to prevent future loss of vision caused by glaucoma, but if the disease has already affected your eyesight, the damage is irreversible. They may suggest eye drops, oral medications or surgery to help manage the condition.
Turn to Nova Vision Center for your eye health needs. Our optometrist can diagnose many eye conditions, including glaucoma, through comprehensive eye exams. Call us today at (703) 291-0080 to schedule an appointment. We serve residents of Alexandria and Arlington, VA.