What to know about Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a complex disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness.
Here are some frequently asked questions about glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss or blindness. The most common form of glaucoma is called “primary open-angle.”
Glaucoma is caused by pressure on the optic nerve, which is created when some of the fluids in our eyes flow too slowly. This pressure leads to optic nerve damage and vision loss
Glaucoma is often managed with eye drops and medicine, and sometimes with surgery. No matter what you and your doctor decide, early detection and monitoring are critical and necessary steps. Vision lost from the disease does not come back, but you can stop or slow more vision loss from occurring!
Anyone can get glaucoma, but African Americans over age 40 and everyone over age 60 are particularly at risk. You also have a higher risk of glaucoma if your family members have the disease.
The only way to know for sure if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam from an eye care professional. This is especially important if you are at a higher risk of getting glaucoma. After the exam, your close-up vision may be blurry for a few hours.
The early symptoms of primary open-angle glaucoma are often so subtle that people don’t notice them. As glaucoma gets worse, you may begin to lose your peripheral (or side) vision, narrowing what you can see down to a tunnel. Over time, even that straight-ahead tunnel vision may shrink and worsen until no vision remains.
Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years.
This is especially important if you:
- Are African American over age 40
- Are over age 60
- Have a family history of glaucoma