Glaucoma Awareness

Happy 2023 from Blumenstock Family Eyecare! We look forward to another year of providing premium eyecare treatment and solutions for Lincoln and the surrounding area. To start off the year, we bring you education and awareness of glaucoma types, risk factors, and more. Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma! 

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can cause vision loss. Typically caused by high pressure in the eyes, a progression of vision loss may become more apparent, starting with the loss of peripheral vision. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, this eye disease can eventually cause blindness.

Types of Glaucoma

While there are other forms of glaucoma, open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma are the two most common forms of glaucoma. Open-angle tends to develop slowly over time, while angle-closure often comes on suddenly with multiple symptoms such as headaches or extremely blurry sight; these signs should lead you straight for an eye doctor!

Both forms involve fluid buildup and lack of drainage, which cause the main culprit of glaucoma — pressure. Unfortunately, patients typically do not notice their eyes becoming clogged until later stages. Regular exams are crucial to good eye health because they allow early detection before irreversible damage occurs.

Risk Factors

Several factors, including heredity, age, and pre-existing conditions can predict the risk for glaucoma. A person’s chances of developing glaucoma increase by ten if they have a sibling or parent with this disease, as well as those who use steroids or sustained eye injuries from accidents. In addition to family history, age is also a major risk factor for glaucoma. As we age, the drainage system associated with our eyes no longer functions as well, resulting in eye pressure. This pressure can also be a result of myopia, or nearsightedness. Patients with pre-existing conditions, such as myopia or corneal thickness, have an increased risk of glaucoma as well. 

Treatment

Early detection and glaucoma testing is the best way to avoid or worsen the effects of glaucoma. While the damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed, proper treatments will help slow the progression and can protect your eye from further damage. 

The best form of action is routine visits with your eye doctor. Keep your eyes healthy and schedule a comprehensive eye exam with our office. Contact us today or schedule an appointment online now!