Losing the sense of sight changes every aspect of living. In the past, people who developed blindness and had no safety net often ended up homeless, relying on begging for survival. While that happens far less commonly today, conditions like glaucoma still take a severe personal toll, and can result in blindness if not discovered and treated early. Glaucoma San Antonio patients fight optic nerve damage with education and the latest medical advances.
Glaucoma commonly attacks both eyes, and is characterized by ever-increasing liquid pressure within those orbs. Fluids regularly drain under normal circumstances, which allows internal pressure to remain balanced. If that natural process is blocked, internal forces slowly build, often causing permanent damage to nearby ocular structures, including the optic nerve. The two most common types are called open and closed angle.
Victims may not be aware of a developing problem because the symptoms of open angle glaucoma have a gradual onset. Over time, nerve damage results in a loss of peripheral vision that may go unnoticed for years. In the later stages, all vision is affected, and restricted to a narrow, tunnel-like space directly in front. The closed-angle variety causes more immediate problems, and has more noticeable symptoms.
These signs of trouble include eye pain that may be harsh enough to cause vomiting and nausea. Electric lights may seem to have glowing auras, and adjusting to light intensity changes in different environments becomes harder. Age increases the chances of developing this problem, which can also be encouraged by genetic inheritance, the presence of other illnesses, and even recent eye surgery.
The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis. Pressure tests have become a standard part of most eye exams, and can immediately detect dangerously high levels. Additional tools include gonioscopy, a procedure determining blockage of the angle between the iris and cornea. Perimetry tests can tell whether portions of lateral vision are missing, and optic nerve tools reveal the extent of damage at the rear of the eye.
If an exam has uncovered problems, it is vital that treatment begin as soon as possible. While no form of this degenerative condition can be completely cured, progression can be slowed or halted. Even though damage cannot be reversed, the most common therapy includes eye-drops containing prostaglandin analogues, beta blockers, fluid inhibitors, or drugs to stimulate flow.
If medication delivered via drops proves ineffective, surgery may relieve the pressure. Drainage passages are being unblocked today by skilled laser surgeons, and patients are benefiting from other methods designed to reduce interior forces manually. In some cases, an aqueous shunt is installed. A victim of acute-angle disease may be treated as an emergency, requiring immediate drug treatment or surgery to preserve vision.
San Antonio TX sufferers know the vital role eye examinations and early detection play in combating this second leading cause of blindness. Because the disease can progress even without symptoms, only an eye specialist can determine whether there is potential trouble. Technological improvements in equipment make an early diagnosis painless and relatively simple, giving doctors better ways to preserve vision longer.
Glaucoma commonly attacks both eyes, and is characterized by ever-increasing liquid pressure within those orbs. Fluids regularly drain under normal circumstances, which allows internal pressure to remain balanced. If that natural process is blocked, internal forces slowly build, often causing permanent damage to nearby ocular structures, including the optic nerve. The two most common types are called open and closed angle.
Victims may not be aware of a developing problem because the symptoms of open angle glaucoma have a gradual onset. Over time, nerve damage results in a loss of peripheral vision that may go unnoticed for years. In the later stages, all vision is affected, and restricted to a narrow, tunnel-like space directly in front. The closed-angle variety causes more immediate problems, and has more noticeable symptoms.
These signs of trouble include eye pain that may be harsh enough to cause vomiting and nausea. Electric lights may seem to have glowing auras, and adjusting to light intensity changes in different environments becomes harder. Age increases the chances of developing this problem, which can also be encouraged by genetic inheritance, the presence of other illnesses, and even recent eye surgery.
The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis. Pressure tests have become a standard part of most eye exams, and can immediately detect dangerously high levels. Additional tools include gonioscopy, a procedure determining blockage of the angle between the iris and cornea. Perimetry tests can tell whether portions of lateral vision are missing, and optic nerve tools reveal the extent of damage at the rear of the eye.
If an exam has uncovered problems, it is vital that treatment begin as soon as possible. While no form of this degenerative condition can be completely cured, progression can be slowed or halted. Even though damage cannot be reversed, the most common therapy includes eye-drops containing prostaglandin analogues, beta blockers, fluid inhibitors, or drugs to stimulate flow.
If medication delivered via drops proves ineffective, surgery may relieve the pressure. Drainage passages are being unblocked today by skilled laser surgeons, and patients are benefiting from other methods designed to reduce interior forces manually. In some cases, an aqueous shunt is installed. A victim of acute-angle disease may be treated as an emergency, requiring immediate drug treatment or surgery to preserve vision.
San Antonio TX sufferers know the vital role eye examinations and early detection play in combating this second leading cause of blindness. Because the disease can progress even without symptoms, only an eye specialist can determine whether there is potential trouble. Technological improvements in equipment make an early diagnosis painless and relatively simple, giving doctors better ways to preserve vision longer.
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