Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in the world, affects more than 3 million people in the United States.
The real—more—worrying part?
Of those affected by glaucoma, most don’t even know that they have the eye condition and require eye exams miami; they don’t experience any pain, nor do they suffer from any immediate (or obvious) vision impairment.
Like high blood pressure, glaucoma is a devious disease – that is, it steals the sight sneakily and stealthily. And by the time the first clinical symptoms develop in an individual, permanent damage has already occurred.
For this very reason, glaucoma is also described by medical experts as the “sneak thief of sight”.
But what exactly is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition that encompasses a group of eye diseases, all involving progressive and irreversible damage to the optic nerve.
There are a variety of factors that can contribute to optic nerve damage in an individual; however, the most frequently associated is increased intraocular pressure.
The increase in intraocular pressure in an individual may be triggered by either:
· overproduction of aqueous humor (a watery fluid) in the eye; or
· slow drainage of aqueous humor from the eye.
Glaucoma is an incurable eye pathology (no damage reversal), which once developed, needs lifelong treatment to prevent further damage and manage the risks of permanent blindness.
The earliest symptoms of glaucoma involve gradual loss of peripheral vision or limited visual field. As the damage to the optic nerve gets more severe, the individual suffers reduced central vision, ultimately experiencing complete vision loss.
The risk factors for glaucoma include:
· Short sightedness
· Physical injury to the eye
· Increasing age
· African ethnicity
· Diabetes
· High blood pressure
· Family history of the disease
Diagnosis for glaucoma entails many different clinical tests. Individuals are checked for eye pressure, field of vision, visual acuity, etc.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment starts, which depending on the extent of the disease, may involve administration of eye drops and/or laser and surgical interventions.
Do you suspect you have glaucoma? Consult an optometrist immediately for a complete eye checkup.
At Dr. Gilberg & Associates, we’ve been serving the North Miami area with top quality emergency eye care miami for the last ten years. We pride ourselves on providing state-of-the-art services and affordable medical treatment to patients for a variety of eye-related problems, including glaucoma. Learn more about our services here.