Facts And Information On Glaucoma San Antonio

By Eloise Hewitt


Glaucoma is used in reference to a group of eye conditions that lead to damage of the nerve that transmits signals to the brain- the optic nerve. It is the damage to this nerve that leads to vision loss. When the pressure inside the eyes, called intraocular pressure, is increased too much, the eyes will likely get damaged. This is among the leading causes of blindness. The damage to vision occurs so gradually that one may fail to realize until the condition is advanced. For those suffering from glaucoma San Antonio offers various options of treatment.

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.

The most common types of this condition, primary open-angle and angle-closure, have very varying symptoms. The former has two main types; tunnel vision during advanced stages and gradual loss of peripheral vision in both eyes. The latter has symptoms such as eye pain, blurred vision, vomiting, nausea and sudden onset of visual disturbance. The conditions are referred to as primary when the cause is unknown and secondary when its cause can be traced to known causes.

Individuals are not supposed to wait until the symptoms are advanced. The key to avoiding suffering from this condition is to go for check-ups frequently. Whenever one realizes sharp pain in the eyes, blurred vision, strong headaches and nausea, they should seek medical advice. Otherwise, there is the risk of seeking medical care when it is too late.

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 with a family history of the condition are more prone to suffer from it. There also is a defect on one or more genes and this makes some people more at risk than others. Further, heart diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure are some of the medical conditions that increase risk of glaucoma.

Treatment is mainly scheduled to reduce eye pressure. The doctors may improve eye drainage, reduce amount of fluid produced in the eyes or lower the eye pressure. It should be noted that the condition cannot be cured, thus the aim is to prevent vision loss due to its effects.




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