Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain, is damaged. Glaucoma is usually associated with high intraocular pressure, which is elevated pressure inside the eye. The exact cause of primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease, is uncertain, but it is known to be associated with a family history of the disease.
There are no symptoms of glaucoma at first, which is why it is important to have your eyes examined for signs of glaucoma even if you are not having any difficulties with your eyes. As glaucoma progresses, a patient may lose peripheral vision and even central vision. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness.
Glaucoma cannot be cured, however early detection and treatment usually can preserve vision. Treatment consists of lowering intraocular pressure with eye drops, but can involve laser treatments or surgery.
At New Vision Laser Center, your ophthalmologist or optometrist is trained to recognize the early signs of glaucoma and to treat it, and we include glaucoma screening in all of our routine examinations.
We have state-of-the-art equipment including automated Humphrey Visual Field (HVF) testing and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) optic nerve scanning which can help in the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma. If you are over the age of 40 and have not been checked for glaucoma, contact us to schedule an examination.
For more information and to schedule an appointment, contact us today.
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