Glaucoma is an eye disease that puts an abnormally amount of pressure on the eye, causing damage to the optic nerve. Unfortunately, for many, glaucoma eventually leads to blindness, especially if detected too late. There are many questions that those who are recently diagnosed or have a loved one that suffers for glaucoma. Here are a few of these frequently asked questions.
Does glaucoma only affect the elderly?
No, there are many types of
glaucoma. Even small children can have glaucoma.
What are the warning signs of glaucoma?
There are several early warning signs such as slight pain, blurry vision, and the appearance of halos. However, most people who are diagnosed with glaucoma experienced no symptoms at all until it was too late.
Is glaucoma permanent?
Once glaucoma is diagnosed it cannot be healed. If you catch it early you may be able to stop the damage. However, once the damage is done it cannot be reversed.
How is glaucoma treated?
If you are diagnosed with glaucoma your ophthalmologist will give you eye drops that will help to lower the pressure in your eyes. With less pressure against the optic nerve, damage can be limited but not reversed.
How can I prevent myself from getting glaucoma?
There are no medicines to stop you from getting glaucoma. The best remedy is to catch the disease before it causes too much damage. The best way to do that is to have frequent eye exams to detect the disease as early as possible.
How often should I get my eyes examined?
The standard for getting an eye exam is once a year. However, if you have a family history of glaucoma, as you age you should increase your eye exams to every six months. This is also true if you have diabetes. If you have diabetes you are particularly prone for glaucoma. By controlling your diabetes through proper diet and testing you can reduce your risk greatly.
To learn more about glaucoma as well as cataracts and
cataract surgery,
LASIK eye surgery,
PRK, and other eye care options, it is important to visit a
laser vision correction office outside Seattle.