Glaucoma is a collection of eye diseases that when not managed result in total loss of vision through the damage of optic nerves in the retina part of the eye. The disease has three varieties, that is, normal-tension, open-angle, and closed-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common variety in the world today. It occurs over a long period of time and it usually does not cause any form of pain in the eye. To understand glaucoma San Antonio offers a good location to check out.

One should seek immediate treatment when they notice open-angle glaucoma. Slight loss in side vision is a common symptom. This is followed by reduced central vision and then total blindness. The presentation of the closed-angle variety may be gradual or sudden. Sudden presentation is usually accompanied by mid-dilated pupil, nausea, severe eye pain, redness in eyes, and blurred vision.

Blindness caused by glaucoma is irreversible. There are many risk factors that are associated with the condition. Common ones are high blood pressure, obesity, migraines, eye pressure, and family history. The variety caused may depend on the risk factors one is exposed to.

The disease can be treated completely or have the pace at which it occurs reduced significantly if it is recognized and treated during the early stages. Treatment options include surgery, laser treatment, and medication. These treatments reduce pressure inside the eye. Treatments are classified into classes and each class varies in terms of efficiency depending on the type one is suffering from. Laser treatment is more successful on closed-angle and open-angle varieties.

Surgery only becomes an option when other treatments are not working. Closed-angle variety of this illness is often a medical emergency. Worldwide, between 11-67 million people suffer from the disease. Two million of those people live in the United States. Older people are more likely to suffer the illness while women are more likely to be affected by the closed-angle variety according to research.

Worldwide, glaucoma causes more blindness in people after cataracts. Regular eye examination is important because the condition usually occurs without any acute symptoms. The main symptoms are visual field loss and optic nerve change. Vitamin supplements are not a treatment for this condition since some people believe that the disease is caused by lack of certain vitamins. There is no scientific proof to support this understanding.

Screening eyes for glaucoma is usually part of standard eye examination. Both optometrists and ophthalmologists can do the screening. Some of the process involved in eye examination are tonometry, optical coherence tomography, gonioscopy, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, scanning laser polarimetry, and pathymetry. The choice of procedures to conduct and ones to leave out is made by the eye specialist.

It is possible for systemic and/or local side effects to result from medication. Also, it may be costly and confusing to adhere to medication protocols. In most cases, blindness caused by this disease occurs because people fail to go for follow-up medical visits and follow medication requirements strictly. One has to persevere when undergoing medication for this disease.