Glaucoma is a Leading Cause Of Preventable Blindness
Glaucoma is the umbrella term for a number of conditions affecting the optic nerve; the nerve responsible for bringing information to the brain. Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” for the way it manifests without symptoms, sometimes causing significant damage before diagnosis.
Wake Family Eye Care Specializes in Glaucoma Testing
More information about Glaucoma
Types of Glaucoma
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
This type of glaucoma is particularly common, gradually decreasing peripheral vision. By the time the patient recognizes the change, permanent damage has been done.
Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma
This type of glaucoma causes sudden episodes of extreme symptoms, including vision loss, nausea, headaches, eye pain, halos around lights and dilated pupils. Each episode can last for hours, and will cause more damage with each attack.
Normal-Tension Glaucoma
This type of glaucoma also causes tunnel vision without symptoms. In this case, doctors believe the disease is caused by poor blood flow to the optic nerve.
Pigmentary Glaucoma
This type of glaucoma is particularly rare, caused by pigment that’s broken away from the iris and blocked the drainage angle of the eye. Symptoms are not typically noticeable, although some patients have reported pain and blurry vision after periods of exercise.
Congenital Glaucoma
This type of glaucoma is genetic and therefore present at birth. Most cases are diagnosed by the time the child turns 1 year old. The best way to discover congenital glaucoma is through regular eye exams.
Diagnosing Glaucoma Before it Damages Your Eyes
Since glaucoma often appears without symptoms, it’s important to schedule and attend annual eye exams. At Wake Family Eye Care, we make early detection of glaucoma and other diseases a priority. We’ve invested in cutting edge technology with the express purpose of catching and diagnosing glaucoma.
During your eye exam, we will be doing tests to check your intraocular pressure. This test is a completely painless and noninvasive way to check for glaucoma. We administer this test as part of any routine eye exam. Book yours today.
Methods of Treatment
The damage glaucoma causes is permanent and irreversible. However, once glaucoma is diagnosed, there are a few options to prevent or slow down any further damage.
Eye drops are commonly prescribed for daily use to slow the progression of glaucoma. If drops aren’t enough to bring down your intraocular pressure, your optometrist may prescribe pills, or even surgery.
We Put Your Needs First
New treatments and therapies for glaucoma are being developed and tested all the time, so be sure to ask your doctor which treatment options might work best for you. At Wake Family Eye Care, we’ll take the time to answer your questions, put your concerns to rest, and help you understand your own eye health needs.