Glaucoma isn’t just one eye disease, but actually an entire group of eye disorders that leads to optic nerve damage, which could result in vision loss. Sometimes, but not in every case, the damage is caused by unusually high pressure within the eye itself. This condition is one of the main causes of blindness in the U.S. alone. It can damage your eyesight so slowly that you may not even notice any vision loss until the disease has progressed to a more advanced stage. The most common kind is primary open-angle-glaucoma, which literally has no obvious symptoms or signs except the gradual loss of vision.
For best results, early detection and treatment is the key to minimizing the disease as much as possible or to prevent further optic nerve damage and decrease glaucoma-related loss of vision. It’s crucial to get an eye exam on a regular basis. Dr. David O’Day, MD and his team of experts can examine your eyes and recommend the best course of action to correct your vision.
Symptoms
The most common types of Glaucoma related vision loss are Angle-Closure-Glaucoma and Open-Angle-Glaucoma which manifests entirely different symptoms in people. If you are experiencing some or many of these particular symptoms simultaneously, especially if you have eye pressure; seek medical attention immediately at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery.
Both Angle-Closure and Open-Angle-Glaucoma can either be primary or secondary disorders. They’re referred to as primary if the cause isn’t known, and called secondary if the disorder can be traced back to an identifiable cause like an eye injury, tumor, diabetes, advanced cataracts, certain eye disorders, inflammation, or medications. In the secondary type, the symptoms can also mimic those of the primary disorder along with regular glaucoma-related symptoms.
Angle-Closure-Glaucoma Symptoms:
- Pain in the eye(s)
- Nausea and vomiting along with severe eye pain
- Blurry vision
- Red eyes
- Abrupt onset of visual problems, typically in low light
- Seeing halos around lights
Open-Angle-Glaucoma Symptoms:
- Tunnel vision in the later stages
- Steady loss of peripheral vision, typically in both eyes
Risk Factors
Because certain forms of Glaucoma can destroy your vision prior to any noticeable symptoms or signs are obvious, be mindful of the following aspects:
- Ethnic background
- Long-term corticosteroid use
- Increased internal eye pressure
- Certain medical conditions
Family history - Other eye disorders
- Age
Recommendations
It’s not recommended that you wait to visit Dr. David O’Day, MD when you begin to notice problems with your eyes. In fact, Open-Angle-Glaucoma shows very few symptoms until the damage is already well under way. Getting your eyes checked on a regular basis is key to identifying any eye disorders early enough in order to effectively treat it and to avoid further development of the condition.
It’s highly advised by the American Academy of Ophthalmology that you get a thorough eye exam beginning at age 40 for adults, and every 4 – 5 years thereafter if you’re not at risk for developing the disorder. If you’re more than 60 years of age and have additional risk factors, you should ideally get screened each year. If you’re ethnicity is African-American, your healthcare professional will probably suggest getting regular eye exams beginning around 20 – 40 years of age.
No matter what your vision-related issues, it is crucial to have a skilled, caring, and trusted health care provider. If you live in Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, and Myrtle Beach SC or surrounding areas, consider visiting Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery for help with a variety of vision-related issues including Glaucoma. Call us at (843) 856-5275 for more information.