Symptoms • Risk Factors • Diagnosis • Treatment
Early Proper Diagnosis and Treatment Vital
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old. It affects about three million people in the United States according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Half of the people with the disease don’t know they have it because there are no early symptoms. Glaucoma is treatable. Blindness can often be prevented with early treatment.
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Glaucoma can only be diagnosed during a full eye exam therefore it is important to have routine testing to detect it in its earliest stages when you may not be having any symptoms. Getting an early and proper diagnosis is crucial. Most people can have good vision with careful monitoring and treatment.
A major risk factor for developing glaucoma is increased intraocular pressure that occurs when fluid in the eye – used to transport important nutrients to the lens and cornea – accumulates and cannot drain naturally. This can result in optic nerve damage.
What does our optic nerve do? It helps transmit information that we see with our eyes to our brain. If left untreated and the optic nerve becomes damaged, you will have vision loss that can eventually lead to permanent blindness.
Reducing eye pressure is at the center of all glaucoma treatments. Eye drops, pills, laser procedures, and surgical operations are used to prevent or slow further damage from occurring.
There are several types of glaucoma. Different types present different symptoms. Normal-tension glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, and angle-closure glaucoma — also known as closed-angle or narrow-angle — are three common types.
Some people have no obvious symptoms or trouble seeing in the early stages. One of the reasons is that the brain can compensate for vision loss. Subsequently, they are shocked when eye damage is detected during an eye exam.
Know that symptoms can be gradual, though a sudden onset becomes a true eye emergency, and requires immediate medical attention.
- Severe pain in the eyes or forehead
- Redness of the eye
- Decreased vision or blurred vision
- Seeing rainbows or halos around lights
- Headache, Nausea, Vomiting
According to the AAO, some people have a higher than normal risk of getting glaucoma.
- Elevated eye pressure
- Increasing age
- Diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure
- African American, Hispanic, Asian ethnicity
- Family history
- Decreased central corneal thickness
- Blunt eye trauma
- Use of long-term steroid medications
Beyond drugs and surgery, according to the AAO, studies suggest that lifestyle choices may also help minimize the risk.
- Exercise regularly
- Meditate to lower stress hormones like cortisol.
- Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, especially green, leafy ones improve blood flow and help regulate pressure inside the eye.
- Don’t smoke. It increases the risk of glaucoma and has an overall negative impact on eye health.
- Maintain healthy body weight. A higher body mass index (BMI) increases the risk for diabetes which puts people at risk of glaucoma. Too low BMI also increases risk.
- Don’t use CBD as a “natural” glaucoma remedy. CBD, or cannabidiol, is the non-psychotropic component of cannabis and hemp being touted as a magical cure-all. A study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science shows it raised eye pressure in mice.
If you have questions about your eye health or glaucoma, please ask your doctor. Or, call our office for a consultation. Our trusted team of highly trained eye care professionals focuses on maintaining the health of your eyes with comprehensive eye care including routine eye exams, preventative care, and treatment. 