Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of sixty, but it can affect people of all ages. While there is no cure for glaucoma, early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent vision loss and protect your eyesight.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with glaucoma, you likely have many questions about treatment options and how they work to manage the condition. Keep reading to learn how glaucoma treatment works!
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions characterized by optic nerve damage. The optic nerve is a crucial component of your vision as it is responsible for sending visual information from the eye to your brain.
Most cases of glaucoma occur because of high pressure in the eye, but some types of glaucoma can happen even if you have normal eye pressure.
What Are the Symptoms Of Glaucoma?
Glaucoma can be a particularly challenging eye condition because it often develops gradually without noticeable warning signs or symptoms in its early stages. The type and severity of symptoms will depend on the type of glaucoma and how far it has progressed.
However, you can still be on the lookout for some signs, such as:
- Blind spots in your side vision
- Headaches
- Eye pain
- Blurred vision
- Halos around lights
- Eye redness
- Nausea and vomiting
Because glaucoma often doesn’t have many symptoms, the best way to diagnose and identify it early on is to get comprehensive eye exams.
What Are the Glaucoma Treatment Options?
Any damage to the optic nerve cannot be reversed. This is why early detection and treatment of glaucoma is essential.
Glaucoma treatments aim to lower your eye pressure. At Simone Eye Center, we offer various glaucoma treatment options, including eye drops, laser surgery, and oral medications.
Eye Drops
Prescription eye drops are usually the first line of treatment for glaucoma. There are various prescription eye drops that can help reduce your eye pressure.
You may also need to use more than one kind of eye drop. Your eye doctor will determine the right option for you and may make adjustments over time to see what is most effective for your individual case.
Laser Surgery
Laser surgeries and therapies are also available to treat glaucoma. There are various kinds of laser treatments for glaucoma. These include:
Laser trabeculoplasty: This laser therapy may be recommended if eye drops don’t adequately reduce your eye pressure. This process involves using a small laser to ensure better drainage at the angle where your iris and cornea connect.
Drainage tubes: Your ophthalmologist can also insert small tubes to drain fluid in your eye and lower the pressure on your optic nerve.
Filter surgery: This procedure is called trabeculectomy. During this treatment, an eye surgeon creates a small opening in your eye to improve drainage and reduce pressure.
Another option is a group of procedures called minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). There are various kinds of MIGS treatments, so give us a call to learn more about the techniques we provide at our office.
Oral Medications
Sometimes, eye drops aren’t enough to lower the pressure on your optic nerve. In these situations, oral medications can be a supplement to eye drops.
Diagnosing Glaucoma With An Eye Exam
Detecting and treating glaucoma early on is key to preventing blindness and protecting your optic nerve. If you’ve noticed any symptoms of glaucoma, it’s important to make an appointment with an eye doctor right away.
Even if you haven’t noticed any symptoms, annual eye exams help diagnose issues like glaucoma early on.
Is it time for you to have your eyes screened for glaucoma? Schedule an appointment at Simone Eye Center in Warren, MI, today!
