Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to your eye’s optic nerve and gets worse over time. It’s often associated with a buildup of pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma tends to be inherited and may not show up until later in life.
The increased pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to the brain. If damage to the optic nerve from high eye pressure continues, glaucoma will cause permanent loss of vision. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total permanent blindness within a few years.
Glaucoma treatment may include prescription eye drops, laser surgery, or microsurgery.
What Are the Types of Glaucoma?
There are two main types of glaucoma:
Open-angle glaucoma
Also called wide-angle glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. The structures of the eye appear normal, but fluid in the eye does not flow properly through the drain of the eye, called the trabecular meshwork.
Angle-closure glaucoma
Also called acute or chronic angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma is less common but can cause a sudden buildup of pressure in the eye. Drainage may be poor because the angle between the iris and the cornea (where a drainage channel for the eye is located) is too narrow.
Why You Need to Undergo Treatment after a Glaucoma Diagnosis
When your doctor tells you that you have glaucoma, you need to go through the recommended eye treatment. Ignoring the symptoms or rescheduling the treatment at a later time can have severe consequences on your field of vision. Vision loss caused by glaucoma is irreversible. By undergoing effective glaucoma treatment, you can manage the disease appropriately.
If you start treatment early, you need to work closely with your eye doctor. When your eye specialist prescribes eye drops and other medications for glaucoma, take them as directed. Following the instructions of your doctor can help save your remaining vision.
Don’t let glaucoma destroy your eyesight permanently. Schedule an evaluation with a Glaucoma specialist in Indiana today by filling out our contact form or by dialing (317) 841-2020.
Glaucoma Specialists
“Over the past 5 to 10 years, there’s been a revolution in glaucoma surgery. It has been miniaturized and can now be done at the very same time as cataract surgery.”
Dr. Anthony Lombardo
