Glaucoma Treatment in San Antonio - South Texas Eye Institute
Glaucoma is one of the most common and most debilitating eye disease affecting Americans today. It usually comes on slowly and painlessly, but can leave the patient completely blind if untreated. Loss of vision is preventable if treatment begins early enough.
To help you get a better understanding of glaucoma, South Texas Eye Institute has provided the following information on the eye disease.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma, which is the leading cause of blindness, is an often-misunderstood eye disease that affects the eye's optic nerve. When natural-occurring eye fluids build up and do not drain properly, intraocular pressure increases. The increased pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve and can affect its ability to transmit images to the brain.
Importance of Early Detection
According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, only about half of the over 3 million Americans who have glaucoma are aware that they have the eye disease. Part of the problem, is the common misconception that glaucoma only affects the elderly; however, in reality, children and young adults can also be affected. Another hindering factor is the fact that glaucoma rarely has symptoms before it affects vision. Because of this, routine eye examinations are critical.
Once vision is lost from glaucoma it cannot be restored. Early detection will allow an eye doctor to treat the condition before vision is too severely affected, saving the patient from partial vision loss or even blindness.
Glaucoma Types
The two most common types of the eye disease are chronic open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma.
Chronic Open-angle Glaucoma
Affecting millions of Americans, the most common form of glaucoma in the united States is chronic open-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is often caused by the aging process. In fact, over 90 percent of adult glaucoma patients suffer from open-angle glaucoma.
A result of poor drainage of fluids in the eye, open-angle glaucoma tends to develop slowly and painlessly. Because of this, patients who do not get regular eye examinations may not be aware that they are affected until the optic nerve is already badly damaged.
Angle-closure Glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma, also referred to as closed-angle glaucoma, is the result of the iris blocking the drainage angle in the eye. This form is glaucoma is rarer than open-angle glaucoma, affecting about 15 percent of U.S. glaucoma cases.
In most cases of angle-closure glaucoma, the symptoms appear quickly. During an acute onset of closed-angle glaucoma, the patient may experience:
- Severe eye pain
- Blurry vision
- Headache
- Appearance of halos around lights
- Nausea and vomiting
To prevent permanent vision loss from acute angle-closure glaucoma, immediate medical attention is needed. The sooner a patient can be seen by n eye doctor for treatment, the better chance he or she has for avoiding blindness.
Risk Factors
There are numerous factors that increase a person's risk for glaucoma, including:
- Advanced age (risk increases after 60)
- Family history of glaucoma
- African American ancestry (larger risk factor after the age of 40)
- Previous eye injuries
- Steroid use
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Leukemia (blood cancer)
- Arthritis
Glaucoma Treatment
There is no cure for glaucoma and vision loss from the eye disease cannot be reversed; however, proper treatment can dramatically slow or temporarily stop the progression of glaucoma.
Typically, glaucoma is first treated with eye drops or other topical medications, although some oral medications are also available. If the intraocular pressure does not properly respond to the medication, laser surgery may be used to control the progression of the glaucoma.
Schedule a Glaucoma Screening at Our San Antonio Office
To learn more about glaucoma or to schedule a glaucoma screening or other eye examination, contact San Antonio Eye Institute today. Whether you are suffering from glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, or any refractive errors, our skilled board-certified ophthalmologists will be happy to answer your questions and can advise you of your options, allowing you to make the best choice for your vision.