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Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, largely because there are no symptoms until its later stages when vision loss is irreversible. The disease damages the optic nerve which is the part of the eye that carries the images you see to the brain. Glaucoma can be well managed through early diagnosis and treatment. It's important to get regular eye exams by an ophthalmologist to maintain the health of your eyes.
Glaucoma Risk Factors
Primary risk factors for glaucoma include:
- age (60 and older)
- elevated eye pressure
- family history of glaucoma
- African or Hispanic ancestry
- farsightedness or nearsightedness
- previous eye injuries
- steroid use
- other health problems such as diabetes or migraine headache
Types of Glaucoma
Open-Angle Glaucoma
Much like an electric cable containing many wires, the optic nerve consists of nerve fibers which transmit images to the brain. Blind spots develop when glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve fibers. If the whole nerve is destroyed, blindness occurs.
The most common form of glaucoma in the United States is chronic open-angle glaucoma. Generally, in its early stages, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms and vision is normal.
Blank spots start to appear in the field of vision as damage to the optic nerve increases. These blank spots are not noticeable in your daily activities until the optic nerve is seriously damaged and they become large. Blindness results if all of the optic nerve fibers die.
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Closed-Angle Glaucoma
From birth, in some people, the iris (the colored part of the eye) is too close to the drainage angle. Their eyes are often small and farsighted and the iris can be pushed into the drainage angle, completely blocking it. Because fluid cannot exit the eye, pressure builds quickly inside the eye, resulting in an acute, sudden closed-angle attack.
Two-thirds of patients with closed-angle glaucoma develop it over the course of time with no symptoms to warn that an acute attack may occur.
Some symptoms of closed-angle glaucoma are:
- blurry vision
- severe eye pain
- headache
- rainbow-colored halos around lights
- nausea and vomiting
If you experience these symptoms, it is a true eye emergency. Please call our office immediately. Without quick treatment, blindness can result.
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Other Forms of Glaucoma
Narrowed side vision and optic nerve damage occur in normal-tension or low- tension glaucoma. Diagnosis is more difficult because intraocular pressure tests within normal limits.
Congenital glaucoma causes children to be born with a defect in the angle of the eye which impedes normal fluid drainage. Symptoms in these children are generally obvious, including cloudy eyes, excessive tearing and a sensitivity to light.
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