Over 80 million people all over the world suffer from the effects of glaucoma, making it one of the most common eye disorders. The effects of glaucoma are irreversible, so preventative care and continued help from an optometrist are incredibly important. At Engle Eyewear, our optometry staff, want to help our residents feel cared for and fulfill all of their eye health needs.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition of the eye that commonly affects people over the age of 60. Glaucoma is caused by the degeneration (or wearing away) of the optic nerve, which transmits information to the brain for images to be processed.
Damage to the optic nerve is irreversible, which is why people with Glaucoma need to have an eye exam quite often to prevent the progression of glaucoma into total vision loss. Glaucoma risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Older age
- Genetic predispostion
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Prior eye injury
- Being nearsighted or farsighted
These risk factors increase your chances of developing glaucoma and losing vision in one or both eyes. If you notice changes in your vision or symptoms of glaucoma, it's important to speak to your doctor.
Symptoms include:
- Blurred vision
- Patchy spots
- Headaches
- Severe eye pain
How an Eye Doctor Can Help
There is no cure for glaucoma, which makes it incredibly important for people with a high risk of glaucoma to visit their eye doctor regularly for a yearly eye exam. These eye exams can help detect early stages of glaucoma, which often have no signs since the changes in visions are gradual.
Your optometrist will help monitor for symptoms of glaucoma and diagnose you using a variety of methods, including dilated eye exams, measuring eye pressure, and doing a field vision test.
If your doctor determines you have glaucoma, they might recommend lifestyle changes including regular exercise. This can help naturally reduce the pressure inside of your eye.
Other treatment options include:
- Eyedrops to reduce eye pressure
- Beta-blockers
- Surgery
- Laser therapy
Schedule an Appointment Today
At Engle Eyewear, our Optometrist is here to help residents of Wilkes Barre, PA get the help they need for glaucoma and other eye issues. We also offer designer eyewear, vision exams, and contact lens exams! Call us today at (570) 208-1111 for more information or to schedule an appointment.