For Effective Care For Glaucoma San Antonio Is The Way To Go

By Ruth Stevens


Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that cause the damage of the optic nerve and consequent loss in vision. There are many types of eye diseases classified under this group including normal-tension, closed-angle, and open-angle glaucoma. Of all the various types, open-angle glaucoma is the most common. The open-angle types develops gradually over time and is not associated with any pain. To have a deep understanding of glaucoma San Antonio is a good place to visit.

Open-angle glaucoma needs immediate treatment when noticed. It can be noticed through slight loss in side vision, which is followed by decrease in central vision before total blindness occurs. Closed-angle type can reveal itself slowly over time or may occur suddenly. Sudden appearance of the disease is often associated with nausea, redness of the affected eye, mid-dilated pupil, blurred vision, and severe eye pain.

Blindness caused by glaucoma is irreversible. There are many risk factors that are associated with the condition. Common ones are high blood pressure, obesity, migraines, eye pressure, and family history. The variety caused may depend on the risk factors one is exposed to.

The progress of the disease can be slowed or a total treatment can be achieved if treatment starts in early stages of the disease. One can choose of the various treatment options available including medication, surgery, and laser treatment. These treatment options aim to lower the amount of pressure in eyes. Treatments are categorized into categories. Each category may be better to a certain variety in which it may have higher efficiency. For example, laser treatment has a higher success rate on open- and closed-angle types.

Surgery only becomes an option when other treatments are not working. Closed-angle variety of this illness is often a medical emergency. Worldwide, between 11-67 million people suffer from the disease. Two million of those people live in the United States. Older people are more likely to suffer the illness while women are more likely to be affected by the closed-angle variety according to research.

Besides cataracts, glaucoma is the second major cause of blindness. There are no acute symptoms associated with the illness, which makes regular eye checks very vital. The only signs one is likely to experience are visual field loss and changes in optic nerves. There is no evidence to support the understanding that lack of some kinds of vitamins within the body causes the problem. Thus, vitamin supplements are not a treatment.

Standard eye examination usually involves screening the eye for glaucoma. This procedure can be done by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The screening process encompasses several process including tonometry, gonioscopy, pathymetry, optical coherence tomography, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and scanning laser polarimetry. The eye specialist may choose which methods to use and which ones to leave out.

Medication may cause systemic and local side effects. It can also be expensive and confusing to stick to the medication protocols. It has been found that failure to stick to medication regimens and make follow-up visits is the main cause of blind among patients with this disease. If unpleasant side effects occur, the patient should be willing to persevere.




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