Glaucoma is an eye condition that is often characterized by an abnormally high intraocular pressure (i.e., pressure in the eye), which can ultimately damage the optic nerve. The added intraocular pressure is the result of fluid accumulation in the eye. If left untreated, it can result in complete vision loss.
Glaucoma may not produce any noticeable changes in your vision until the disease is more advanced. That’s why having regular eye exams starting at age 40 — or earlier for certain ethnic groups — is an important part of preventing loss of vision from glaucoma.
Currently, there is no cure for glaucoma. In addition, any damage to the optic nerve cannot be reversed. Once glaucoma has been diagnosed, though, several treatments including medicated eye drops and surgery are available. Treatments may slow the damage and prevent further loss of vision.
The surgical procedures performed to treat glaucoma include:
Laser surgery (laser trabeculoplasty). This approach is performed to open drainage canals in the eye that are clogged.
Filtering surgery (trabeculectomy). With this surgical technique, a small piece of tissue is removed to allow fluid to drain properly from the eye.
Placement of a drainage implant, such as iStent. With this treatment option, your ophthalmologist inserts a small tube into the eye that allows excess fluid to drain.
If you notice any changes in your vision, contact us for an appointment, so we can diagnose your vision problem and provide suitable treatment options. If your vision suddenly becomes blurry and is accompanied by severe eye pain, nausea, headache, reddening of the eye or halos, contact your eye doctor or go to the emergency room immediately, as this may be a sign of vision-threatening acute angle-closer glaucoma.
While keratoconus can happen at any stage of life, young people between the ages of 10 and 25 are most likely to develop this disorder. For individuals with keratoconus, their cornea, the clear layer in the front of your eye, gradually thins and begins to bulge outward. Keratoconus typically causes nearsightedness
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
If you ever had chickenpox, you’re at higher risk of developing shingles later in life. Shingles can affect many parts of the body. If it travels to your eyes, your cornea can become inflamed and even scarred. Corneal damage might not be apparent until months after the shingles
This group of corneal disorders includes more than 20 variations. Each affects different parts of the cornea, causing it to get cloudy and compromising vision. Most of these dystrophies are inherited, affect both eyes equally and spread between layers of the cornea as they gradually progress.
Pterygium is characterized by a pink tissue growth on the sclera (the white part of the eye), which seems to be the result of chronic exposure to ultraviolet light. In fact, because many surfers suffer from pterygium, the condition is often called surfer’s eye. Pterygium is not cancerous and may continue
This skin disorder, also called erythema multiforme major, sometimes causes painful lesions on the eyelids. Stevens-Johnson syndrome can cause painful corneal blisters and even holes, leading to vision loss.
This syndrome most commonly affects women between 30 and 50 years old. Symptoms include changes to the iris, corneal swelling and the onset of glaucoma.
Every morning, we open our eyes and become immersed in a wealth of visual information. The eyes and related brain structures are a complex system that allows us to experience visual information from the surrounding world. It is easy to take clear vision for granted, but even subtle changes in the structure
Of our five senses, humans rely on vision most strongly. Our everyday experience of the world is colored by our ability to see, our memory draws heavily upon visual information, and many activities of daily living are challenging without sight. As a result, it is essential to protect your eyes from damage.