Glaucoma: What You Need to Know

 What is glaucoma?

• Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve.
• The symptoms can start so slowly that you may not notice them. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a dilated eye exam.
• There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often slow down or stop the damage and protect your vision.

 

 What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

At first, glaucoma doesn’t usually have any symptoms. That’s why half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it.

Over time, you may slowly lose vision, usually starting with your side (peripheral) vision — especially the part of your vision that’s closest to your nose. You may also lose some of your contrast sensitivity. This can make colors look more washed out or like you are looking through a fog. Because it happens so slowly, many people can’t tell that their vision is changing at first. Glaucoma can happen in 1 eye or both eyes.

As the disease gets worse, you may start to notice that you can’t see things off to the side anymore, or you may notice blurred spots. Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually cause total blindness.

 

What causes glaucoma?

There isn’t one specific cause of glaucoma. Current treatments for glaucoma all work by lowering eye pressure. Experts know that when the pressure inside your eye gets too high, it can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. Treatments that lower eye pressure help to slow the disease.

 

Who is at higher risk of glaucoma?

Anyone can get glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk. You may be at higher risk if you:

• Are Black/African American and over age 40
• Are age 60 and older, especially if you’re Hispanic/Latino
• Have a family history of glaucoma
• Have had trama to eyes or head

People who are more likely to get glaucoma need to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years.

 

How does my doctor diagnose glaucoma?

Eye doctors can check for glaucoma as part of a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

The exam is simple and painless — your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and then check your eyes for glaucoma and other eye problems. The exam includes an eye pressure test and a visual field test to check your side vision.

Normal eye pressure varies by person — what’s normal for 1 person could be too high for another.

 

What’s the treatment for glaucoma?

Doctors use different types of treatment for glaucoma, including medicines (usually eye drops), laser treatment, and surgery.

If you have glaucoma, it’s important to start treatment right away. Treatment won’t undo any damage to your vision, but it can stop it from getting worse.

Medicines

Prescription eye drops are the most common treatment. They lower the pressure in your eye to help prevent further damage to your optic nerve.

Laser treatment

To lower your eye pressure, doctors can use lasers to help the fluid drain out of your eye. It’s a simple procedure that your doctor can do in the office for open-angle glaucoma. Doctors can also use a laser to prevent or treat angle-closure glaucoma.

Surgery

If medicines and laser treatment don’t work, your doctor might suggest surgery. There are many different types of surgery that can help the fluid drain out of your eye.

Talk about your options with your doctor. While glaucoma is a serious disease, treatment works well. Remember these tips:

• If your doctor prescribes medicine, be sure to take it every day
• Tell your doctor if your treatment causes side effects
• See your doctor for regular check-ups
• If you’re having trouble with everyday activities because of your vision loss, ask your doctor about vision rehabilitation services or devices that could help
• Encourage family members to get checked for glaucoma, since it can run in families

“Courtesy: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH).”   

 

Michael Mapp, M.D. is the only Glaucoma Fellowship trained Specialist performing surgery in Beaumont.  Dr. Mapp treats a variety of ocular diseases including glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and more.  Dr. Mapp manages glaucoma with medications and/or surgery such as SLT lasers, trabeculectomy, iridectomy, and mini express shunts.  

Dr. Mapp holds himself and his staff to a high standard of care.  He strives to ensure that his patients have an active part and clear understanding of their own eye care.