Glaucoma Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment
There are many different kinds of vision problems out there, and some are more difficult to diagnose and treat than others. Refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) are relatively easy to detect and to address, for example. But a vision problem like glaucoma can be very different matter. It's important, however, that cases of glaucoma be identified and treated by and opthamologist in Nashville as soon as possible for the good of the patient. We'd like to take a moment right now to look at glaucoma so you understand just how serious a problem it is.
About Glaucoma
Glaucoma is sometimes referred to as the silent thief of sight. It's an eye condition that is caused by heightened pressure within the eye. This pressure within the eye affects the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss and even total blindness if left untreated.
Signs and Symptoms for Glaucoma
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of glaucoma include:
- Reduced peripheral vision
- Tunnel vision
- Eye pain
- Halos and glare around lights
- Blurry vision
- Red eye
It's a good idea to visit your doctor regularly for check-ups and to get eye exams at regular intervals as well. Doing so will ensure that the glaucoma can be detected as soon as possible. Our Goodlettsville eye care center is open to you for such needs.
Diagnosing Glaucoma
When diagnosing glaucoma, eye care professionals have several options. One is to use a tonometers, which are instruments that measure intraocular pressure. A gonioscope can also be used to examine the optic nerve and monitor for damage. We can also do rudimentary tests to examine a patient's visual field, which will point out problems with peripheral vision.
Once the glaucoma has been diagnosed, we can then perform Nashville glaucoma treatment.
Treatments for Glaucoma
We should make one thing clear: glaucoma cannot be cured. Once a patient has the condition, it will be with the patient for life. That said, the symptoms of glaucoma can be addressed, and intraocular pressure can be managed in order to maintain vision and slow down further vision loss. That is what glaucoma treatments set out to do.
Conservative approaches to glaucoma treatment will first be considered. This includes the use of medications, both oral medications and medications administered via eye drops. Should these drug therapies fail, there are various surgeries that can be performed in order to reduce the pressure within the eye. These more invasive therapies can be combined with the drug therapies if needed.
Learning All of Your Options
Our eye care physicians serving Nashville want to make sure that you are well aware of all you treatment options so that you can make the best possible decision about the health of your eyes and the quality of you vision. We will be there for you each step of the way with information and guidance.
Learn More About Eye Care Options
For more information about all of your options for advanced eye care, be sure to contact our eye care doctors serving Nashville today. Our entire team looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you have healthy eyes and great vision.
