Glaucoma is a general term referring to various eye conditions that lead to loss of vision through the damage of optic nerves. Optic nerves in the eye serve to transfer signals from the eye to the brain for processing. Advanced stages of this disease cause permanent loss of vision, but it can be managed well with early treatment. There are many eye specialists in San Antonio who offer good care to avoid loss of vision or any severe damage. As such, for treatment of glaucoma San Antonio should be visited.
This disease can be placed into two different categories, that is, narrow-angle and open-angle glaucoma. The drainage angle in the eye is responsible for regulating the outflow of the aqueous fluid, hence the cause of the name angle in the two categories. If the aqueous fluid does access the drainage angle, the name open angle is used to refer to this condition. Otherwise, the name narrow angle is applied if the drainage angle is inaccessible by the aqueous fluid.
The narrow and open angle glaucoma can be further divided into other branches. Primary open angle, congenital, pseudoexfoliation, normal-tension, pigmentary, and secondary glaucoma fall under the open angle category of the disease. On the other hand, chronic, neovascular, and acute angle closure glaucoma are classified under the narrow angle category.
This disease has a high prevalence rate on a global scale and millions of people suffer from it. The level of prevalence between the narrow angle and the open-angle varieties indicate that open angle variant is more prevalent. The level of probability of occurrence is higher in women than in men worldwide. In the United States, Caucasians are at a lower risk compared to Hispanics, Latinos, Filipino and African Americans.
There are no symptoms presented by this condition, something that has made it to be called the silent thief of vision. No perceivable symptoms are experienced in most variants of the disease, until significant vision loss has occurred. At that point, optic nerves will have been damaged beyond recovery leading to varying levels of blindness.
As opposed to other versions, acute angle-closure glaucoma behaves differently by presenting clear signs. Some among the signs that patients may experience include intense eye pain, vomiting, nausea, halos around lights, and blurry vision. When these symptoms are noticed, it is important to seek medical assistance so that steps towards prevention of permanent vision loss can be taken. In most medical emergency settings, this variant of this disease is treated as an emergency case.
Regular eye exams are made very important by the lack of symptoms exhibited by this condition. The eye doctor uses an instrument called a tonometer to gauge the intraocular pressure during an eye examination. Numbing of the eyes is done through the application of eye drops. Intraocular pressure is measured by the use of a tiny probe that is rested gently on the eye surface.
Various factors determine the treatment option adopted, including the level of severity and the type of glaucoma one is suffering from. Treatment options mostly adopted include laser treatment, medication, and surgery. The first line of treatment for regulation of intraocular pressure is medication in combination with eye drops. Most people neglect treatment regimen due to the painlessness of the condition.
This disease can be placed into two different categories, that is, narrow-angle and open-angle glaucoma. The drainage angle in the eye is responsible for regulating the outflow of the aqueous fluid, hence the cause of the name angle in the two categories. If the aqueous fluid does access the drainage angle, the name open angle is used to refer to this condition. Otherwise, the name narrow angle is applied if the drainage angle is inaccessible by the aqueous fluid.
The narrow and open angle glaucoma can be further divided into other branches. Primary open angle, congenital, pseudoexfoliation, normal-tension, pigmentary, and secondary glaucoma fall under the open angle category of the disease. On the other hand, chronic, neovascular, and acute angle closure glaucoma are classified under the narrow angle category.
This disease has a high prevalence rate on a global scale and millions of people suffer from it. The level of prevalence between the narrow angle and the open-angle varieties indicate that open angle variant is more prevalent. The level of probability of occurrence is higher in women than in men worldwide. In the United States, Caucasians are at a lower risk compared to Hispanics, Latinos, Filipino and African Americans.
There are no symptoms presented by this condition, something that has made it to be called the silent thief of vision. No perceivable symptoms are experienced in most variants of the disease, until significant vision loss has occurred. At that point, optic nerves will have been damaged beyond recovery leading to varying levels of blindness.
As opposed to other versions, acute angle-closure glaucoma behaves differently by presenting clear signs. Some among the signs that patients may experience include intense eye pain, vomiting, nausea, halos around lights, and blurry vision. When these symptoms are noticed, it is important to seek medical assistance so that steps towards prevention of permanent vision loss can be taken. In most medical emergency settings, this variant of this disease is treated as an emergency case.
Regular eye exams are made very important by the lack of symptoms exhibited by this condition. The eye doctor uses an instrument called a tonometer to gauge the intraocular pressure during an eye examination. Numbing of the eyes is done through the application of eye drops. Intraocular pressure is measured by the use of a tiny probe that is rested gently on the eye surface.
Various factors determine the treatment option adopted, including the level of severity and the type of glaucoma one is suffering from. Treatment options mostly adopted include laser treatment, medication, and surgery. The first line of treatment for regulation of intraocular pressure is medication in combination with eye drops. Most people neglect treatment regimen due to the painlessness of the condition.