Glaucoma. Such fear-inducing word when it comes to our vision, or lack there of. Although no one really likes getting the puff-of-air test during their eye exam, they all would take that over being diagnosed with glaucoma later, no doubt.
But what is glaucoma really? Most folks just hear the word and think “can’t see anymore”. That may be the case if it is never treated but a lot happens before blindness actually would occur. In truth, glaucoma is an increase in intraocular pressure in the eye including behind the cornea. Over time, if left untreated, that pressure can rise to dangerous levels and damage your optic nerve. This damage can result, initially, in decreased peripheral vision. If still untreated, blindness can be the final result.
The build up in pressure can stem from a disease such as diabetes, or it may not be draining properly. Either way, it indicates a problem that your ophthalmologist should be treating. If you aren’t getting your eyes checked regularly, it may be too late to stop the disease once you finally notice symptoms such as your peripheral vision getting worse.
As for the cornea, it is normally thick enough to maintain its curve against the pressure. Some people, however, have thinner corneas. Thin corneas are not good candidates for LASIK surgery for exactly that reason – they are thin. The LASIK procedure requires that a little corneal tissue be removed. An already thin cornea may not have the ability to holds it own against the pressure of the naturally occurring eye fluids. You don’t want to weaken an already weak structure.
Glaucoma symptoms that your eye doctor can look for include:
Symptoms that you should be aware of include:
These symptoms don’t automatically imply that you have glaucoma but they certainly indicate that a visit to your eye doctor is warranted sooner rather than later. Treatments are available and can be as simple as using prescription eye drops on a strict basis or as serious as glaucoma surgery.
Take good care of your eyesight. It is a sense that people greatly miss when they lose it. Pay attention to how your eyes feel and how you see what is around you. And, of course, visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist regularly. They are the experts and can help with whatever may happen.
But what is glaucoma really? Most folks just hear the word and think “can’t see anymore”. That may be the case if it is never treated but a lot happens before blindness actually would occur. In truth, glaucoma is an increase in intraocular pressure in the eye including behind the cornea. Over time, if left untreated, that pressure can rise to dangerous levels and damage your optic nerve. This damage can result, initially, in decreased peripheral vision. If still untreated, blindness can be the final result.
The build up in pressure can stem from a disease such as diabetes, or it may not be draining properly. Either way, it indicates a problem that your ophthalmologist should be treating. If you aren’t getting your eyes checked regularly, it may be too late to stop the disease once you finally notice symptoms such as your peripheral vision getting worse.
As for the cornea, it is normally thick enough to maintain its curve against the pressure. Some people, however, have thinner corneas. Thin corneas are not good candidates for LASIK surgery for exactly that reason – they are thin. The LASIK procedure requires that a little corneal tissue be removed. An already thin cornea may not have the ability to holds it own against the pressure of the naturally occurring eye fluids. You don’t want to weaken an already weak structure.
Glaucoma symptoms that your eye doctor can look for include:
- High intraocular pressure<br>
- Reduced visual fields<br>
- Damaged optic nerve<br>
Symptoms that you should be aware of include:
- Headaches when reading or entering a dark room<br>
- Haloes around lights<br>
- Misty vision<br>
- Eye aches after vigorous activity<br>
- Missing pieces in your visual field such as first letters of words<br>
These symptoms don’t automatically imply that you have glaucoma but they certainly indicate that a visit to your eye doctor is warranted sooner rather than later. Treatments are available and can be as simple as using prescription eye drops on a strict basis or as serious as glaucoma surgery.
Take good care of your eyesight. It is a sense that people greatly miss when they lose it. Pay attention to how your eyes feel and how you see what is around you. And, of course, visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist regularly. They are the experts and can help with whatever may happen.
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