What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure on the optic nerve increases, causing eye damage and potential blindness. However, glaucoma is one of the trickier eye conditions because not all people experience pain or symptoms until noticeable vision loss occurs. There are two main types of glaucoma that refer to the drainage angle inside the eye that controls the outflow of the (aqueous) watery fluid that is continually being produced inside the eye:

  • Open-angle glaucoma: the aqueous can access the drainage angle
  • Narrow angle glaucoma: the drainage angle is blocked and the aqueous cannot reach it

How To Prevent It

If you don’t have glaucoma, there are a few ways to decrease risk from getting it:

Frequent Symptoms:

  • Sudden blurred vision
  • Eye pain
  • Nausea or vomiting

Find Out If You Have Glaucoma

There are two main ways that optometrists will check for glaucoma during your annual comprehensive eye exam:

  • Puff Test: A tonometer is used to measure your intraocular pressure where a puff of air is sent onto you eye’s surface.
  • Dilation Drops: Drops are used to dilate the pupil so that the doctor can see through your eye to examine the shape and color of the optic nerve. Then, the doctor uses a small device with a light on the end to magnify the nerve.
  • To see if you have glaucoma, schedule a comprehensive eye exam today. Scheduling An Eye Exam

How To Treat It

  • Glaucoma can be treated with prescribed eye drops, medication or surgical procedures. Make an appointment to get a consultation with one of our eye experts. Scheduling An Eye Exam

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