Glaucoma is one of the most common eye diseases in the world. However, just because it’s common doesn’t mean that it’s easy to trace without an optometrist. Glaucoma can develop for years without showing symptoms. Eventually, though, the disease can progress enough to damage your vision.
Glaucoma is one of the many eye diseases we look for during a comprehensive eye exam. Please, book your next appointment with us today!
Glaucoma is a common eye disease that currently affects nearly 3 million people in America alone. When it develops, it starts to prevent fluids in the eye from draining properly, increasing intraocular pressure (IOP) levels. When this pressure builds up, it can then damage the optic disc, leading to vision loss.
However, some forms of glaucoma can develop without raising IOP levels.
The 3 most common forms of glaucoma include:
Open-angle glaucoma develops when IOP levels rise, but the drainage angle between the iris and the cornea remains open. The result is a slow increase in IOP that eventually damages the optic disc, leading to vision loss.
This type of glaucoma can be detected in a couple of ways, most commonly by observing your optic nerve or measuring your IOP levels with a tonometer.
Risk factors include:
Closed-angle glaucoma, or angle-closure glaucoma, occurs when the drainage angle between your iris and cornea becomes suddenly and severely blocked or closed completely. These blockages can cause a rapid increase in IOP levels, resulting in permanent vision damage.
In some cases, you may experience eye pain, blurred vision, halos around objects, eye redness, or even nausea. Because of the threat that closed-angle glaucoma can have on your vision, it is considered a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
Risk factors include:
Normal-tension glaucoma can occur when your optic disc is damaged, yet your IOP is within normal levels. Doctors aren’t quite sure how this form of glaucoma develops, but your optometrist can detect during a routine eye exam.
Risk factors include:
We do an in-depth assessment of your ocular health during every eye exam. This includes analyzing your optic disc for signs of damage, which could indicate glaucoma.
The iCare tonometer is a handheld tonometer that uses a probe to measure your IOP levels. The small probe takes its reading by lightly tapping the surface of your eye, taking resistance measurements to determine IOP levels.
Damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed, and you will likely have to live with the disease for the rest of your life. However, we can help you manage the development of glaucoma.
You can manage your glaucoma by:
Are you at risk of developing glaucoma? Please, book an eye exam with us today. Early detection and diagnosis will minimize the impact it has on your quality of life.
Find us just south of the Sheridan & Glen intersection, on the same side of the road as Marco’s Pizza and across the street from Walgreens.
Find us just south of the Sheridan & Glen intersection, on the same side of the road as Marco’s Pizza and across the street from Walgreens.
You can find our office on North Cummings Lane, right next door to Rock Valley Physical Therapy. We offer plenty of parking in front of our clinic with accessible parking stalls.
Closed for lunch 12-1pm
You can find our office on North Cummings Lane, right next door to Rock Valley Physical Therapy. We offer plenty of parking in front of our clinic with accessible parking stalls.
Closed for lunch 12-1pm
Peoria
Washington
