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What is Glaucoma?
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What is Glaucoma?
What You Need to Know
Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of vision” because it can cause irreversible vision loss without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. This chronic disease of the optic nerve progresses slowly and painlessly, making early detection and treatment essential. Here’s what you need to know to protect your vision and eye health.
Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending visual information from your eye to your brain. Over time, increased pressure in the eye or poor circulation to the eye can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss.
Who Is at Higher Risk for Glaucoma?
While glaucoma can affect anyone, some people are at higher risk, including:
- Family history of glaucoma: Genetics play a significant role in your risk.
- Nearsighted individuals (myopes): Being nearsighted is associated with a higher likelihood of developing glaucoma.
- Age over 40: The risk of glaucoma increases with age.
- Diabetics: With diabetes, blood flow in the eye can be affected, resulting in less circulation to the optic nerve. Many times, eye pressure is normal, making the condition harder to detect without advanced retinal imaging.
Additional Risk Factors:
- High eye pressure
- Low blood pressure
- Poor circulation (e.g. cold fingers and toes)
- Sleep apnea (can cause lack of oxygen to the nerve during sleep)
A silent disease: 50% of people with glaucoma don’t know they have it. Regular checkups are vital for catching the disease early. Although nerve damage is irreversible, the earlier you can detect glaucoma and start treatment, the better you can prevent further vision loss.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, but it doesn’t have to be. Early diagnosis and treatment can save your sight. That’s why regular eye exams are imperative, especially if you fall into a high-risk category. It is important to do routine visual fields and advanced OCT imaging to screen properly for glaucoma, and to track subtle changes you cannot see with the naked eye.
How to Protect Yourself
Glaucoma cannot be cured, but early detection and treatment can help slow its progression and preserve your vision. Here’s what you can do:
Get Regular Dilated Eye Exams
Routine eye exams allow your optometrist to check for early signs of glaucoma and monitor the health of your optic nerve.
Do Visual Field Tests
These tests map your peripheral vision and detect any blind spots caused by glaucoma.
Perform Advanced OCT Scans
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans can identify early nerve damage and help your doctor develop a treatment plan.
Follow Prescribed Treatments
Eye drops, laser treatments, or surgeries can help lower intraocular pressure and slow disease progression.
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle
Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and controlling your blood pressure can help reduce your risk.