theconnectionsnj.com HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 57 The Optical Shoppe at Bedminster Eye 400 Main Street, Bedminster, NJ 07921 Monday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM Email: optical.bedminstereye@comcast.net • (908) 719-2020 Maui Jim • Ray-Ban • Fysh • Tom Ford • Kliik • Lightec • Flexon • Oakley Silhouette • Kate Spade • Longchamp • Salvatore Ferragamo NIKE • Calvin Klein • Pro Design • STATE We accept VSP and most EyeMed Plans Buy one pair RX Eyeglasses Get 40% off 2nd pair RX Eyeglasses Cannot be combined with other offers or insurance See optician for details Expires 4/10/25 Excludes Maui Jim Our mission is to provide everything you need for your best vision, from the latest in advances in medical & surgical care to selecting the right eyeglasses. We Have The Latest Styles! Find Your Perfect Frames! Please scan the QR code to visit our eyeglass gallery! laucoma is an eye disease that can be found during a routine complete eye exam with your eye doctor. Q. What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve. The optic nerve is located at the rear of the eye and it sends visual information from your eye to the brain and is vital for good vision. Glaucoma usually develops when fluid builds up in front of the eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve. But, glaucoma can happen even with typical eye pressure. Q. What are the Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma? Glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stages. In fact, half the people with glaucoma do not know they have it! But at some point depending on the type and stage of your condition, you will develop a range of vision changes. That is why it is so important to have regular eye exams so that your ophthalmologist can help find this disease before you develop the symptoms or lose vision. Q. How is Glaucoma Diagnosed? A. The only sure way to diagnose glaucoma is with a complete eye exam. A glaucoma screening that only checks eye pressure is not enough to find glaucoma. During a glaucoma exam, your ophthalmologist will: • measure your eye pressure • inspect your eye’s drainage angle • examine your optic nerve for damage • test your peripheral (side) vision • take a picture or computer measurement of your optic nerve • measure the thickness of your cornea Q. Who is at risk for Glaucoma? Glaucoma can happen at any age but is more common in older adults. It is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. Some people have a higher-than-normal risk of getting glaucoma and will require not just one exam, but repeat examinations at an appropriate frequency to evaluate for the development of glaucoma over time. You may be at higher-than-normal risk for glaucoma if you have any of the following: • high eye pressure • are farsighted or nearsighted • have had an eye injury • use long-term steroid medications • corneas that are thin in the center • thinning of the optic nerve • diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation, or other health problems affecting the whole body • are over age 40 • family members with glaucoma • are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage Q. What types of Glaucoma are there? The most common type of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma. Because optic nerve damage is slow and shows no noticeable symptoms, many people don’t realize they have it until vision problems arise. The lesser common form of glaucoma is known as angle-closure glaucoma and can come on quickly. Some of those symptoms include severe eye pain, blurred vision, halos, nausea, vomiting, and red eye. It is considered a medical emergency so seeing a doctor as soon as you suspect angle-closure glaucoma is imperative! The condition affects vision from the moment it begins. Q. How is Glaucoma treated? The best glaucoma treatment for you will depend on your unique circumstances. During your eye exam, your ophthalmologist will observe the progress of the disease and evaluate the health of your eyes. The recommended treatment will be based on the results of this testing. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may require laser surgery or some other type of procedure, such as a trabeculectomy, stent, iridotomy, or cyclophotocoagulation. The general goal is to reduce the pressure around the eye by releasing fluids. Dr. Lawrence V. Najarian is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist and the Founder and Medical Director of Bedminster Eye and Laser Center. Lisa Ortenzio is a Doctor of Optometry. For over 30 years, Bedminster Eye and Laser Center has delivered trusted, full-service eye care with offices in Bedminster and Teaneck providing everything you need for your best vision, from the latest advances in medical and surgical care to selecting the proper eyewear. 400 Main Street, Bedminster • 908-781-2020 Teaneck Eye and Laser Center • 201-833-8333 Glaucoma By Lawrence Najarian, M.D. and Lisa Ortenzio, O.D. ASK THE EYE DOCTOR G
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