Glaucoma Treatment
Serving New Jersey, Monmouth County, & Ocean County
Like cataracts, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. On March 6 of this year (2008), the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) held the first international Glaucoma Day. It was designed to raise awareness of the insidious danger that glaucoma presents when it is left untreated. There were special education events, symposiums, radio spots, local discounts offered for eye examinations, and many other local events.
What is Glaucoma?
The term glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases which differ in some ways, but all have one thing in common. They all involve increased pressure inside the eye. Our eyes are filled with fluid. It exerts outward pressure on the eye’s periphery – including the cornea, which normally is thick and firm enough to hold its curvature against this pressure.
Some people have thinner corneas, which is the reason why some are not good candidates for LASIK. A LASIK procedure removes a little corneal tissue, and there must be enough corneal thickness to allow for that and still be enough left to stay strong against the eye’s internal pressure.
Increased eye pressure causes damage to the optic nerve. This is the large nerve which gathers vision information from the retinal cells, and carries it to the brain. When eye pressure is too high for too long, and that nerve starts to be damaged, less vision information can travel to the brain. This is why glaucoma slowly and gradually reduces vision until eventually blindness happens.
Early Detection is Imperative
Because a damaged nerve does not regenerate, it’s essential to diagnose and treat glaucoma before it causes major damage to the optic nerve. A person can have above-average eye pressure without having glaucoma; and conversely, a person can have glaucoma without having above-average eye pressure. Of the various types of glaucoma, most happen gradually, although some can happen suddenly.
Diagnosing Glaucoma
Glaucoma is diagnosed by determining whether any damage is present in the eye tissue that is related to eye pressure. Since the causes of glaucoma are not fully understood, diagnosis is sometimes difficult. There is no simple and sure test. There are three things, however, which an eye doctor will look for:
1. Intraocular pressure – high pressure by itself does not indicate glaucoma, but it’s essential to test it, as it’s centrally related to glaucoma
2. Visual Field Reduction – again, by itself, a reduced visual field doesn’t prove the presence of glaucoma. But it is part of glaucoma and important to detect.
3. Optic Nerve Damage – other eye tissues can be damaged by glaucoma (the cornea, lens, iris and retina). But damage to this nerve is more important to detect.
Glaucoma Symptoms
High intraocular pressure, reduced visual field and a damaged optic nerve are three signs to the eye doctor that glaucoma is likely present. But they are not things that the patient feels. That’s the insidiousness of glaucoma that you don’t realize you have it until vision loss has become fairly severe. For that reason, it’s important to go for routine glaucoma checks.
Symptoms vary according to the type of glaucoma. You might notice:
- Headaches when you’re reading or entering a dark room
- Haloes around light sources
- Misty vision
- Eye aches after vigorous physical activity
- Missing pieces in the visual field such as first letters of words
These symptoms are not conclusive proof of glaucoma but they should be examined as soon as possible. You can read more on our Professional Services page.
If you have noticed any of the above symptoms or if it’s been a few years since you had an eye exam and you’re reached the age of 40 or so, please contact us to schedule a consultation. It is in your best interests to catch glaucoma early. Our office serves the Monmouth and Ocean County areas in New Jersey, and we hope to meet with you soon.