Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, but you can take steps to preserve your eyesight by scheduling annual eye exams.
Glaucoma Is Caused by Increased Eye Pressure or Sensitivity to Pressure
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eyes to the brain.
Your eye needs a steady circulation of fluid to keep it clean and lubricated. In a healthy eye, fluid can exit the eye through the drainage angle.
When the eye’s drainage system becomes blocked, it may raise the pressure within the eye, known as intraocular pressure. Elevated eye pressure or sensitivity to pressure can damage the fibers in the optic nerve and cause you to develop blind spots in your vision.
Glaucoma Can Develop with or without Symptoms
Did you know it is possible to have a degenerative eye condition without knowing it? Glaucoma is nicknamed the “sneak thief of sight” because it can cause irreversible eye damage without warning signs. Three million people have glaucoma, but half are unaware they have the disease.
Primary open-angle glaucoma, or POAG, is the most common type. It tends to develop gradually as pressure begins to build inside the eye. Usually, POAG is painless and does not cause noticeable changes in your vision during the early stages. Therefore, many people with POAG don’t know they have glaucoma.
Angle-closure glaucoma can develop when the iris is close to the area where the eye drains. This type can develop slowly or quickly, but eye pressure rises rapidly when a complete blockage occurs. During an acute angle-closure glaucoma attack, people may develop sudden symptoms like blurred vision, nausea, intense eye pain and headaches.
Sometimes people can have eye pressure that is within the normal range, but they still experience blind spots in their visual field and vision loss. This is called normal-tension glaucoma.
Some People Have a Higher Risk of Developing Glaucoma
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some people are more at risk. Some glaucoma risk factors include the following:
- Having a family history of glaucoma
- Being of Asian, Hispanic or African heritage
- Being older than 40
- Being nearsighted or farsighted
- Having a previous eye injury
- Having health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, poor circulation or migraine headaches
- Having corneas that are thin in the middle
- Having a thin optic nerve
- Using steroid medications for an extended period
Daily Choices Affect Your Glaucoma Risk
You can make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of developing glaucoma. Creating healthy habits can lower your risk for eye disease as well as many other chronic health conditions.
Getting regular exercise and eating a nutritious diet high in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats is a great place to start. Controlling your weight and blood pressure will help your heart and circulation and lower your risk of diabetes.
Smoking can increase your risk of eye diseases as well, so quit smoking if you’re a smoker. If you’ve never smoked, make a commitment to not smoke or use tobacco products.
Early Detection Can Prevent Irreversible Vision Loss
There is no cure for glaucoma, but diagnosing it early can help you maintain your eyesight and prevent further vision loss.
Some people report weaker or dimmed vision due to glaucoma, but people usually don’t experience symptoms. Therefore, you cannot rely on warning signs.
A comprehensive eye exam with dilation can detect glaucoma early when it is easy to treat. Eye exams that only screen for elevated eye pressure are insufficient to accurately diagnose glaucoma.
A comprehensive eye exam will include a complete screening for glaucoma, which includes …
- examining, measuring and taking an image of your optic nerve,
- measuring intraocular pressure,
- looking at the drainage angle of your eyes,
- testing your peripheral vision and
- measuring the thickness of your corneas.
If your ophthalmologist detects glaucoma, you have many treatment options available. Eyedrops can help reduce the amount of fluid your eye makes, or increase the flow of fluid in the eye.
There are also some surgical procedures called trabeculoplasty and iridotomy that can relieve pressure and increase fluid flow to the drainage angle.
Call Today to Make an Appointment with an Ophthalmologist
Yearly eye exams are an important part of preventive health care. Beginning at age 40, you should begin glaucoma screening and repeat the screening every two to four years, depending on your eye doctor’s recommendations.
Medicare will pay for one glaucoma exam per year for people who are at higher risk for the disease. However, everyone needs to take proper precautions and schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
Our eye care centers have board-certified ophthalmologists who are accepting new patients and look forward to providing you with exceptional vision care. Celebrate Glaucoma Awareness Month and start your year off by prioritizing your eye health. Call today to make eye appointments for your family.