The condition known as glaucoma is not just a single eye disease but a combination of conditions that lead to damage of the optic nerve. The damage of this nerve leads to loss of vision. Whenever there is an increase in intraocular pressure, the eyes are likely to get damaged. When considering glaucoma San Antonio residents ought to remember that it is among the leading causes of blindness. With this condition, vision is damaged so slowly that one may fail to realize. Most people realize only during the advanced stages.
Primary-angle glaucoma is the most common type of this condition. The signs and symptoms are not easily noticeable. Thus other than the fact that the symptoms increase gradually, one may fail to realize they are suffering from it. When there is timely diagnosis and treatment, any damages associated with it are minimized. Regular examination of eyes is recommended, during which the intraocular pressure needs to be measured.
Primary-angle and angle-closure glaucoma have very different symptoms. The first of the two, primary-angle, is of two types; gradual loss of peripheral vision in the two eyes and tunnel vision during the advanced stages. The other, angle-closure, has symptoms such as blurred vision, pain in the eyes, vomiting, sudden onset of visual disturbance and nausea. This condition is referred to as secondary when it can be traced to known causes and primary when the causes are unknown.
Patients are advised not to wait until the symptoms are in the advanced stages. The best way to detect this condition early is to go for regular check-ups. Some of the indicators to look out for are strong headaches, nausea, eye pain and halos around the eyes. Any such symptoms should be shared with the doctor.
The increased pressure in the eyes is as a result of build-up of aqueous humor which is the fluid that flows into and out of eyes. Normally, the fluid leaves eyes via a drainage system. This system is at the angle where the iris and cornea meet. Whenever the drainage system fails to effectively work, the fluid cannot filter out of eyes normally. This is the cause of build-up of pressure in the eyes.
There are certain risk factors that one should be wary of. Age is one such crucial factor. People over 40 years are at risk of suffering from angle-closure glaucoma. For certain groups such as African-Americans, the risk development of the eye condition is much higher and takes place in younger people. For Mexican-Americans, those older than 60 are at a higher risk.
People that come from families that have history of glaucoma are more at risk. Further, there is a genetic link to it, which means some individuals are more susceptible than others. Diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure are among the medical conditions which increase risk of infection.
The treatment is mainly used to reduce pressure of the eyes. The pressure of the eyes is lowered, the drainage system improved or the quantity of fluid reduced. The condition itself cannot be cured. It is the damages that are minimized and vision loss prevented.
Primary-angle glaucoma is the most common type of this condition. The signs and symptoms are not easily noticeable. Thus other than the fact that the symptoms increase gradually, one may fail to realize they are suffering from it. When there is timely diagnosis and treatment, any damages associated with it are minimized. Regular examination of eyes is recommended, during which the intraocular pressure needs to be measured.
Primary-angle and angle-closure glaucoma have very different symptoms. The first of the two, primary-angle, is of two types; gradual loss of peripheral vision in the two eyes and tunnel vision during the advanced stages. The other, angle-closure, has symptoms such as blurred vision, pain in the eyes, vomiting, sudden onset of visual disturbance and nausea. This condition is referred to as secondary when it can be traced to known causes and primary when the causes are unknown.
Patients are advised not to wait until the symptoms are in the advanced stages. The best way to detect this condition early is to go for regular check-ups. Some of the indicators to look out for are strong headaches, nausea, eye pain and halos around the eyes. Any such symptoms should be shared with the doctor.
The increased pressure in the eyes is as a result of build-up of aqueous humor which is the fluid that flows into and out of eyes. Normally, the fluid leaves eyes via a drainage system. This system is at the angle where the iris and cornea meet. Whenever the drainage system fails to effectively work, the fluid cannot filter out of eyes normally. This is the cause of build-up of pressure in the eyes.
There are certain risk factors that one should be wary of. Age is one such crucial factor. People over 40 years are at risk of suffering from angle-closure glaucoma. For certain groups such as African-Americans, the risk development of the eye condition is much higher and takes place in younger people. For Mexican-Americans, those older than 60 are at a higher risk.
People that come from families that have history of glaucoma are more at risk. Further, there is a genetic link to it, which means some individuals are more susceptible than others. Diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure are among the medical conditions which increase risk of infection.
The treatment is mainly used to reduce pressure of the eyes. The pressure of the eyes is lowered, the drainage system improved or the quantity of fluid reduced. The condition itself cannot be cured. It is the damages that are minimized and vision loss prevented.
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