• Glaucoma

    Image of eye expression of discomfort

Glaucoma

What Our Ophthalmologist Wants You to Know

Glaucoma is actually the name for a group of disorders, all of which affect the optic nerve. In order for your eyes to function without problems, the optic nerve needs to be healthy. Conditions often cause damage to the optic nerve due to unusually high levels of pressure in the eye. At Texas Eye Surgeons, our treatment staff has years of experience helping patients with complex eye issues.

Causes

Doctors aren’t completely sure what starts the process within the eye that results in glaucoma, although, studies suggest there are genetic factors. People who are over the age of 60 and/or have a family history are more likely to develop the disease than the rest of the population. The eye pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve builds due to problems with either the amount of fluid in the eye or the eye’s drainage system. In some people, the eye produces too much fluid. In others, the drainage system doesn’t work as quickly as it should, resulting in too much fluid in the eye. When this pressure gets too high, the optic nerve begins to break down. As the optic nerve deteriorates, blind spots in the vision may result.

Symptoms

There are many different symptoms including:

  • A ring of light, or a halo around lights
  • Migraines and/or severe headaches
  • Blind spots in one or both eyes
  • Tunnel vision
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Eye pain

It’s important to note that these symptoms can be indicative of other conditions (such as migraine with aura). If you are experiencing these symptoms, it’s important that you get checked out by an eye doctor.

Treatment

While glaucoma is a degenerative condition with no cure, there are many different treatments to alleviate the symptoms. These include prescription eye drops, oral medications, and/or eye surgery. Our ophthalmologist will work with you to create a treatment plan unique to your needs.

Call Our Eye Surgeon in Plano

If you or a loved one are showing symptoms you think may be related, it’s important that you seek treatment from an eye doctor right away. At Texas Eye Surgeons in Plano and surrounding areas, our eye doctors have years of experience helping patients with complex eye conditions.

Call our conveniently located Plano office at (972) 379-3937.

Eye Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

The term “glaucoma” is rightfully dreaded since this progressive disease of the optic nerves is a leading cause of blindness throughout the world. But many people do not quite understand what glaucoma is all about, or what they can do to protect themselves against it. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions  from our ophthalmology center at Texas Eye Surgeons in Plano, TX.

Glaucoma is a blanket term applied to numerous conditions that damage the optic nerves, resulting in progressive and irreversible loss of vision. It is the second most common cause of blindness.

Glaucoma can occur for a variety of reasons, including no discernable reason at all. Most commonly, however, it is the result of high fluid pressure inside the eye. When the eye cannot efficiently drain the fluid constantly produced within it, pressure may rise until the optic nerve sustains damage.

While anybody can get glaucoma (including infants born with the condition), the risk varies according to age, ethnicity, and underlying health factors. African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have an elevate glaucoma risk, along with individuals aged 40 or over and individuals suffering from hypertension, diabetes, refractive errors, thin corneas, eye injuries, or a family history of the disorder.

The most common kind of glaucoma is called open-angle glaucoma. In this condition, the eye drains its fluid too slowly to control internal pressure levels, causing gradual vision damage. Less common is angle-closure glaucoma, in which the drainage suddenly suffers total failure. This medical emergency needs to be treated immediately.

Open-angle glaucoma may do extensive damage to your optic nerves before you notice any symptoms. Vision loss usually starts with a reduction in peripheral vision. Angle-closure glaucoma causes, not just sudden and severe vision loss, but also headaches, eye pain, and nausea.

Our Plano ophthalmologist utilizes the latest diagnostic technology and expertise to detect glaucoma during a routine exam including tonometry that measures your internal eye pressure. We can also view your optic nerves directly to look for signs of damage.

Oral and topical medications usually do a good job of controlling your eyes’ fluid pressure. If necessary, we can also perform painless outpatient techniques using lasers to modify your eyes’ drainage system.

Call Our Texas Eye Surgeons in Plano, TX Today!

The best way to get all the answers to your glaucoma questions is by calling (972) 379-3937. Schedule a consultation today!

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