Glaucoma Treatments Indiana
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve and impairs vision in older patients. The two main types of Glaucoma are open angle and angle closure. Open angle Glaucoma, the most common form, often goes unnoticed and untreated during the earliest stages. Most patients don’t realize they are suffering from open angle Glaucoma because they do not experience any pain. Angle closure Glaucoma is less common but it can accelerate faster and has the ability to cause more serious damage to the optic nerve. That is why it is important to have regular eye exams with Dr. Lanter.
As Glaucoma accelerates the optic nerve fibers are slowly destroyed which causes the optic nerve to look hollow. This damage will be noticeable to Dr. Lanter, even if you are not experiencing a loss or change in your vision. As the disease progresses your vision will decrease, and ultimately lead to blindness if left untreated.
Causes of glaucoma:
The exact cause of Glaucoma is mainly unknown. Studies show that the trabecular meshwork, or the drainage system of the optic nerve, may be the cause. In open angle Glaucoma the trabecular looks normal from the outside, but it is believed that there are internal abnormalities that cause the drainage problems. If fluids are unable to leave the eye then the eye pressure will increase and cause the eye to inflate. In angle closure Glaucoma abnormal blood vessels, scar tissue, or the iris, blocks the trabecular meshwork, and causes increased pressure.
This pressure may be one of the ways the optic nerve is damaged. Many Glaucoma patients have higher eye pressure, which suggests the direct correlation. Not all patients who suffer from high eye pressure suffer from Glaucoma, and patients with normal eye pressure suffer from Glaucoma. It is believed that increase eye pressure does play a role.
Glaucoma Symptoms:
Open angle glaucoma patients generally have no noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses vision loss will become obvious. First the peripheral vision begins to decrease while the center vision remains strong and then, over time, the central vision will also be lost.
An angle closure Glaucoma patient will have symptoms and may suffer from periods of pain, ranging from minimal discomfort to severe pain in the eye and head. This pain may cause the vision to become blurred, which is why patients with angle closure glaucoma often seek out medical attention sooner than an open angle glaucoma patient.
Treatment:
Once Glaucoma causes vision loss it can’t be restored. The only way to help prevent Glaucoma is to be proactive and schedule regular eye exams with Dr. Lanter. This is especially important if you have a family history of Glaucoma or other eye diseases, because you may be at greater risk.
The early treatment of Glaucoma includes eye drops to help lower eye pressure. These eye drops will work to decrease the amount of fluid produced in the eye. Other eye drops allow fluid to drain out of the eye. Either of these eye drops will decrease the eye pressure and slow the progression. If the Glaucoma has progressed beyond treatment with eye drops Dr. Lanter may suggest surgery.
Please contact Dr. Lanter to schedule your comprehensive eye examination.
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve and impairs vision in older patients. The two main types of Glaucoma are open angle and angle closure. Open angle Glaucoma, the most common form, often goes unnoticed and untreated during the earliest stages. Most patients don’t realize they are suffering from open angle Glaucoma because they do not experience any pain. Angle closure Glaucoma is less common but it can accelerate faster and has the ability to cause more serious damage to the optic nerve. That is why it is important to have regular eye exams with Dr. Lanter.
As Glaucoma accelerates the optic nerve fibers are slowly destroyed which causes the optic nerve to look hollow. This damage will be noticeable to Dr. Lanter, even if you are not experiencing a loss or change in your vision. As the disease progresses your vision will decrease, and ultimately lead to blindness if left untreated.
Causes of glaucoma:
The exact cause of Glaucoma is mainly unknown. Studies show that the trabecular meshwork, or the drainage system of the optic nerve, may be the cause. In open angle Glaucoma the trabecular looks normal from the outside, but it is believed that there are internal abnormalities that cause the drainage problems. If fluids are unable to leave the eye then the eye pressure will increase and cause the eye to inflate. In angle closure Glaucoma abnormal blood vessels, scar tissue, or the iris, blocks the trabecular meshwork, and causes increased pressure.This pressure may be one of the ways the optic nerve is damaged. Many Glaucoma patients have higher eye pressure, which suggests the direct correlation. Not all patients who suffer from high eye pressure suffer from Glaucoma, and patients with normal eye pressure suffer from Glaucoma. It is believed that increase eye pressure does play a role.
Glaucoma Symptoms:
Open angle glaucoma patients generally have no noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses vision loss will become obvious. First the peripheral vision begins to decrease while the center vision remains strong and then, over time, the central vision will also be lost. An angle closure Glaucoma patient will have symptoms and may suffer from periods of pain, ranging from minimal discomfort to severe pain in the eye and head. This pain may cause the vision to become blurred, which is why patients with angle closure glaucoma often seek out medical attention sooner than an open angle glaucoma patient.
Treatment:
Once Glaucoma causes vision loss it can’t be restored. The only way to help prevent Glaucoma is to be proactive and schedule regular eye exams with Dr. Lanter. This is especially important if you have a family history of Glaucoma or other eye diseases, because you may be at greater risk.
The early treatment of Glaucoma includes eye drops to help lower eye pressure. These eye drops will work to decrease the amount of fluid produced in the eye. Other eye drops allow fluid to drain out of the eye. Either of these eye drops will decrease the eye pressure and slow the progression. If the Glaucoma has progressed beyond treatment with eye drops Dr. Lanter may suggest surgery.
Please contact Dr. Lanter to schedule your comprehensive eye examination.
