Intraocular fluids help maintain a healthy level of pressure in your eyes. Structural changes in your eyes, however, can lead to a buildup of intraocular fluids,which can cause glaucoma. Here, your trusted eye doctors from the Neal Eye Group shed light on this disease, which is the leading cause of vision loss worldwide:
Causes
Your intraocular fluid normally drains through a mesh network called the drainage angle. Irregularities or obstruction to this space may lead to fluid accumulation and increased intraocular pressure (IOP). This pressure causes compression of your optic nerve, resulting in optic nerve damage. The optic nerve is made up of more than a million tiny nerve fibers. It is like an electric cable made up of many small wires. As these nerve fibers die, you will develop blind spots in your vision. Typically, these blind spots are not noticed until it is too late for effective treatment.
Stages and Symptoms
Our expert optometrist explains that glaucoma has two general classifications: open and closed. The open type is the most common form, and occurs when the mesh network becomes ineffective in draining fluids as stated above. This type of glaucoma if often asymptomatic in the early stages. This is why it is imperative to see the Neal Eye Group for a yearly eye examination to rule out any changes in your eyes.
The close type occurs when the angle becomes blocked or restricted. This causes fluid accumulation and increased IOP levels. Although this type of glaucoma is less common, it involves a higher risk of sudden vision loss. Symptoms include seeing halos around lights, as well as experiencing blurry vision and severe headaches.
Diagnosis and Management
Your experienced eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam to check for signs of glaucoma in your eyes. We use Humphery Visual Field and Zeiss Cirrus Optical Coherence Tomography, which combines the functions of a perimeter with advanced imaging processes of the your nerve fiber layer to evaluate your current eye health. This can help us evaluate if you are at a greater risk for glaucoma. Our standard glaucoma treatment may include IOP-lowering eye drops, microsurgery, or laser procedures.
If you have any further questions about glaucoma, call us at (610) 813-2988. We help families in Norristown, Philadelphia, Lafayette Hill
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