Loss of vision changes every single aspect of life. In past centuries, people who lost their eyesight and had no safety net often ended up begging in order to survive. While that rarely happens today, eye diseases like glaucoma still exact a harsh personal penalty, and can result in blindness if not found and treated in time. Glaucoma San Antonio sufferers combat this optic nerve issue using education and advances in technology.
Glaucoma commonly attacks both eyes, and is characterized by ever-increasing liquid pressure within those orbs. Fluids regularly drain under normal circumstances, which allows internal pressure to remain balanced. If that natural process is blocked, internal forces slowly build, often causing permanent damage to nearby ocular structures, including the optic nerve. The two most common types are called open and closed angle.
Victims may not be aware of a developing problem because the symptoms of open angle glaucoma have a gradual onset. Over time, nerve damage results in a loss of peripheral vision that may go unnoticed for years. In the later stages, all vision is affected, and restricted to a narrow, tunnel-like space directly in front. The closed-angle variety causes more immediate problems, and has more noticeable symptoms.
These signs of trouble include eye pain that may be harsh enough to cause vomiting and nausea. Electric lights may seem to have glowing auras, and adjusting to light intensity changes in different environments becomes harder. Age increases the chances of developing this problem, which can also be encouraged by genetic inheritance, the presence of other illnesses, and even recent eye surgery.
The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis. Pressure tests have become a standard part of most eye exams, and can immediately detect dangerously high levels. Additional tools include gonioscopy, a procedure determining blockage of the angle between the iris and cornea. Perimetry tests can tell whether portions of lateral vision are missing, and optic nerve tools reveal the extent of damage at the rear of the eye.
If problems are discovered during an exam, treatment usually begins as soon as possible. As of yet there is no total cure for this type of complex eye degeneration, but progress can be slowed or even halted. While existing destruction is irreversible, there are significantly helpful eye drops that contain effective drugs, including beta blockers, fluid inhibitors, prostaglandin analogues, and chemicals that stimulate liquid flow.
If medication delivered via drops proves ineffective, surgery may relieve the pressure. Drainage passages are being unblocked today by skilled laser surgeons, and patients are benefiting from other methods designed to reduce interior forces manually. In some cases, an aqueous shunt is installed. A victim of acute-angle disease may be treated as an emergency, requiring immediate drug treatment or surgery to preserve vision.
Sufferers in San Antonio TX realize the importance of testing and treatment to combat the progression of this vision-robbing condition. Because there may be no apparent symptoms, only a vision specialist can detect the first signs of trouble. Technological advances in visual medicine have made detection simple and pain-free. Early diagnosis reduces the chance that long-term problems will develop.
Glaucoma commonly attacks both eyes, and is characterized by ever-increasing liquid pressure within those orbs. Fluids regularly drain under normal circumstances, which allows internal pressure to remain balanced. If that natural process is blocked, internal forces slowly build, often causing permanent damage to nearby ocular structures, including the optic nerve. The two most common types are called open and closed angle.
Victims may not be aware of a developing problem because the symptoms of open angle glaucoma have a gradual onset. Over time, nerve damage results in a loss of peripheral vision that may go unnoticed for years. In the later stages, all vision is affected, and restricted to a narrow, tunnel-like space directly in front. The closed-angle variety causes more immediate problems, and has more noticeable symptoms.
These signs of trouble include eye pain that may be harsh enough to cause vomiting and nausea. Electric lights may seem to have glowing auras, and adjusting to light intensity changes in different environments becomes harder. Age increases the chances of developing this problem, which can also be encouraged by genetic inheritance, the presence of other illnesses, and even recent eye surgery.
The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis. Pressure tests have become a standard part of most eye exams, and can immediately detect dangerously high levels. Additional tools include gonioscopy, a procedure determining blockage of the angle between the iris and cornea. Perimetry tests can tell whether portions of lateral vision are missing, and optic nerve tools reveal the extent of damage at the rear of the eye.
If problems are discovered during an exam, treatment usually begins as soon as possible. As of yet there is no total cure for this type of complex eye degeneration, but progress can be slowed or even halted. While existing destruction is irreversible, there are significantly helpful eye drops that contain effective drugs, including beta blockers, fluid inhibitors, prostaglandin analogues, and chemicals that stimulate liquid flow.
If medication delivered via drops proves ineffective, surgery may relieve the pressure. Drainage passages are being unblocked today by skilled laser surgeons, and patients are benefiting from other methods designed to reduce interior forces manually. In some cases, an aqueous shunt is installed. A victim of acute-angle disease may be treated as an emergency, requiring immediate drug treatment or surgery to preserve vision.
Sufferers in San Antonio TX realize the importance of testing and treatment to combat the progression of this vision-robbing condition. Because there may be no apparent symptoms, only a vision specialist can detect the first signs of trouble. Technological advances in visual medicine have made detection simple and pain-free. Early diagnosis reduces the chance that long-term problems will develop.
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