Undergoing Diagnosis and Treatment for Glaucoma

Do you know that glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in seniors? The progressive eye disorder causes visual changes gradually and unnoticeably until it’s at the advanced stage. Specialists perform eye screening to diagnose the condition at the early stages, and it’s vital to undergo eye tests to detect and treat your eye condition early. We recommend you to undergo regular eye screening tests at our eye clinic in Calgary to identify any risk factors that may cause glaucoma and other eye disorders.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to an eye disease that leads to damage to your optic nerve. It’s likely attributed to abnormal blood pressure in your eye, eroding your optic nerve that supplies visual signals from your brain to the eye. It would be best to visit your eye specialist to determine what causes glaucoma. It may lead to blindness or vision loss, and its risk factors include:

• Aging
• Eye defects including long or short-sightedness
• Poor vision
• Having diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease
• Particular medication or drugs for seizures or bladder control
• Eye injury
• Thinner cornea than usual

Symptoms of Glaucoma

There are two stages of glaucoma, namely:

• Primary open-angle glaucoma
• Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma disorder has no identifiable symptoms except gradual vision loss. However, acute-angle closure glaucoma requires immediate medical attention. Once you come for a glaucoma evaluation at Calgary, AB, our ophthalmologist will check if you have the following symptoms:

• Blurred vision
• Redness in your eye
• Severe eye pain
• Severe headache
• Unexpected vision disturbances
• Seeing colored rings around lights

Acute angle-closure glaucoma may compel you to visit the ER near you and ensure your ophthalmologist diagnoses your eyes and provides the immediate treatment.

What Causes Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a progressive eye disorder that’s caused by an increase in intraocular pressure. The aqueous humor fluid at your retina fills the front part of your eye and leaves through your eye channels. If the drains are partially obstructed or blocked, pressure develops, leading to damage of your eye’s optic nerve, and you are likely to lose your vision. Some of the factors that may contribute to glaucoma include:

• High blood pressure
• A reduced flow of blood into your eye’s optic nerve
• Dilating eye drops
• Obstructed drainage in your eye
• Certain medications

Glaucoma Diagnosis

During your visit, your eye specialist will check at your eye symptoms and assess your health in determining whether you have underlying issues that impact your eye’s health. Our ophthalmologist diagnoses glaucoma at Premier Eye Care by performing a comprehensive eye examination to check on vision deterioration signs. Some of the tests done include:

• Measuring your eye pressure
• Inspecting drainage angle of your eyes
• Examining your optic nerve for any damage caused
• Peripheral vision tests
• Imaging of your optic nerve
• Checking on the thickness of your cornea

Glaucoma’s diagnostic evaluation depends on numerous aspects that should be considered while diagnosing and determining your eye pressure, including ocular function and intraocular pressure. Your eye specialist does personalized pressure-lowering assessments through regular schedules to lessen the risk of your eye disorder.

Glaucoma Treatment

You can undergo treatment and regular eye screening to prevent vision loss if you have glaucoma. Intraocular pressure lowers by using prescribed eye drops, laser therapy, surgery, or recommended oral medications. Eye drops decrease eye pressure by decreasing the excess fluid in your eye.

Surgical Treatment and Other Therapies

You can undergo other treatment options that improve your fluid drainage and lower eye pressure, including:

• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery by installing drainage devices that lower your eye pressure
• Insertion of drainage tubes to drain away excess fluid in your eye and lower eye pressure
• Laser therapy for open-angle glaucoma bus using a small laser beam to open clogged channels

The treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma requires a medical emergency to reduce pressure in your eye. You’ll require oral medication and laser treatment to ensure proper drainage for your eye fluid and ensure clear vision. Glaucoma evaluation Calgary, AB, will determine the ideal treatment plan for your condition.

Glaucoma isn’t easily diagnosed, but you can undergo early screening and start treatment before your disorder progresses. It’s essential to make regular preventive eye care visits. Please make an appointment with our ophthalmologist at our eye clinic in Calgary to diagnose glaucoma and provide you with ideal treatment before it advances and lead to vision loss.