Glaucoma – Frequently Asked Questions

If you are considering glaucoma treatment or would like to know more about glaucoma symptoms or diagnosis it is very important that you gather as much information as possible. Below you will find answers to several frequently asked questions concerning glaucoma. If you should have further questions about glaucoma please feel free to browse our site for additional information or have DocShop locate a glaucoma specialist in your area.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve. Thought to affect more than two million people across the country, most of them over age 50, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness. Explore the signs and symptoms of glaucoma and find out about current treatments for glaucoma.

Who is at risk for glaucoma?

Studies have shown that certain people are at a heightened risk of developing glaucoma. These include people over age 60, African-Americans, people with a family history of glaucoma, steroid users, people who have suffered ocular injuries, and patients with ocular hypertension. There are also several medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of glaucoma, including diabetes, hypothyroidism, leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and arthritis. Learn more about the risk factors for glaucoma.

Can glaucoma be prevented?

Most risk factors for glaucoma are beyond a patient’s control. If you are over age 20, you need to have an eye examination that includes tests for glaucoma every three to five years. These tests may be done by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. If there is a heightened risk for glaucoma, talk with a glaucoma specialist about having more frequent examinations.

What are the common symptoms of glaucoma?

During the onset of glaucoma there is a rapid buildup of intraocular pressure, which may cause cloudy or haloed vision, nausea or headaches, light sensitivity, excessive blinking, crossed or out-turned eyes, one eye becoming larger than the other, excessive tearing, or decreased vision. Click to examine the common symptoms of glaucoma.

What are the different types of glaucoma?

There are several types of glaucoma. The four main types are:

• Open-angle glaucoma – The most common form of the disease, open-angle glaucoma occurs when the angle between the cornea and the iris where fluid is supposed to drain from the eye is open, but the fluid drains too slowly.
• Closed-angle glaucoma – Occurs when the drainage angle is blocked by part of the iris and fluid cannot drain from the eye.
• Normal (or low)-tension glaucoma – Occurs in patients with normal intraocular pressure and is treated in the same way as open-angle glaucoma.
• Congenital glaucoma - Occurs when a child is born with defects that slow fluid drainage from the eye.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Early detection is the key to protecting your vision from damage caused by glaucoma. In individuals with an elevated risk, a glaucoma specialist should perform a comprehensive eye exam and diagnostic glaucoma tests. Regular glaucoma check-ups include two routine eye tests: tonometry and ophthalmoscopy. If the pressure in the eye is not in the normal range, or if the optic nerve looks unusual, then one or two special glaucoma tests will be done. These two tests are called gonioscopy and perimetry. Click to examine the diagnosis of glaucoma.

Can glaucoma be cured?

There is no cure for glaucoma but it can be dramatically slowed or temporarily halted with glaucoma treatment. Glaucoma can be treated in one of two ways: medication or surgery. Both of these treatments are aimed at lowering intraocular pressure. In the United States, medications are considered to be the first-line glaucoma treatment. If this fails, then glaucoma surgery will be considered.

What treatments are available for glaucoma?

The two types of glaucoma treatment are medication and surgery. Glaucoma medications are either oral or topical. Topical medications such as eye drops, eye ointments, or inserts reduce eye pressure either by increasing the outflow of fluid from the eye or by reducing the amount of fluid produced by the eye. For patients who still have an elevated IOP after attempting treatment through medication, a glaucoma specialist may recommend either glaucoma laser surgery or conventional surgery.

How do I know which glaucoma treatment is right for me?

Glaucoma can be a very serious, debilitating disease, and it is crucial to visit a glaucoma specialist if you have any signs or symptoms of glaucoma. Find a glaucoma specialist in your area with the assistance of the DocShop directory. DocShop can help you find an experienced doctor who can provide you with treatments for glaucoma.