Understanding risk factors and symptoms of glaucoma and receiving an early diagnosis can help protect and preserve vision. That’s why we’ve dedicated this article to helping you understand glaucoma risk, symptoms, and prevention of vision loss. Keep reading to learn more. Understanding Glaucoma To understand more about glaucoma, it’s helpful to learn a little bit about the eye. In the front part of our eyes, there is a clear fluid called the aqueous humor, or intraocular fluid. Aqueous fluid is not the same as tears. The glands on the outside of our eyes make tears, which then moisten the outer surface of our eyes. Aqueous fluid is made continuously and secreted inside the eye. The fluid nourishes the eye and helps to maintain proper eye pressure. Aqueous humor fluid moves in and out of the eye through a structure called the drainage angle and is absorbed into the bloodstream. Think of the structure like a drainage canal. The correct balance of fluid in the eye is needed to maintain proper eye pressure. When the balance of fluid is disrupted, as it is in glaucoma, it can lead to an increase in eye pressure. The balance of fluid may be altered if there is too much fluid production or there is a problem with the fluid draining properly. When the fluid builds up, it increases pressure in the eye, which compresses the optic nerve, causing damage and eventually vision changes. Symptoms of GlaucomaThere are two primary forms of glaucoma: Open angle glaucoma and closed angle (also called narrow-angle) glaucoma. One thing that makes glaucoma especially worrisome is that there are typically no symptoms associated with the condition early in the progression of the disease. That means you can have glaucoma without even knowing. People with glaucoma cannot recognize a buildup of fluid in the eye or a problem with the drainage system. Unfortunately, symptoms of glaucoma do not develop until there is already damage to the optic nerve. Although you cannot detect glaucoma yourself, there is good news though. Your ophthalmologist can diagnose the condition through a comprehensive eye exam, before it leads to damage to the optic nerve. When symptoms do appear, they may include the following:
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor immediately. You should have a complete eye exam as soon as possible to determine the cause. Risk Factors for Developing Glaucoma Although glaucoma can develop in anyone, certain factors put individuals at a higher risk of developing the condition. Knowing your risk factors is important, so your eye doctor can advise you properly on the frequency with which you should have eye exams. Factors that increase your risk of glaucoma include:
What You Can Do to Prevent Vision Loss from Glaucoma Currently, there is no known way of preventing glaucoma. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to decrease the chances of blindness from glaucoma though. The number one, most important thing to do to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is have regular eye exams. Although symptoms often do not appear until glaucoma has progressed, your ophthalmologist can diagnose the condition earlier through special eye exams.
It’s also important to be aware of your risk factors. The frequency of your eye exam and screening for glaucoma may vary based on your risk of developing the disease. The Glaucoma Research Foundation recommends a comprehensive eye exam to screen for glaucoma every year after age 35 for people who have risk factors for developing glaucoma. If you do not have risk factors, the following schedule is recommended:
To learn more about glaucoma, please stay tuned for our upcoming glaucoma blog posts and visit the following pages on our website: If you would like to schedule an eye exam with one of our ophthalmologists who specializes in glaucoma or have any questions about your risk factors for glaucoma, please call our office at 508-746-8600. Comments are closed.
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