Glaucoma Cures plus Ways to Lessen Risks

Glaucoma is an eye problem that may result in damage to the optic disc, a loss of vision and in some cases, blindness. It is caused by additional pressure in the eye that can create problems such as headaches and pain in the eyes. Some factors which may increase the risk of developing this problem include, age, race and corneal thickness. Disease indicators, such as low blood pressure, diabetes and eye injury, are taken into consideration during investigations. The condition can affect one eye or both of them. If treatment is not received for this disease, it can worsen, eventually resulting in the loss of a patient's peripheral vision and a complete loss of sight.

How The Glaucoma Disease Can Be Treated

Early intervention is crucial to minimize or even eliminate adverse effects, and committing yourself to take care of your eyes is also helpful. Making regular appointments with your eye hospital can make it easier for your doctor to detect signs of the disease before it has a chance to cause serious damage to your eyes. Medication will relieve any symptoms or pain you will experience and may also prevent the disease from becoming worse over time.

Screening/Exams

Eye tests remain to be the best way to detect glaucoma. The visual field test measures the patient's level of peripheral vision. Doctors are able to examine a patient’s retina and optic nerve using the dilated eye exam which uses drops to widen the pupils. A visual acuity test determines a patient's ability to see objects at varying distances. To measure the cornea, numbing eye drops are administered and an ultrasonic wave is used. Finally, pressure in the eye is measured using tonometry.

Medicine

Your eye doctor can prescribe medicines or eye drops which can help decrease the level of pressure in the eye and reduce the amount of fluid in the eye. Medication often has to be taken regularly throughout the day and may cause reactions and side effects in users. In a large number of cases, patients will be required to continue taking the medication indefinitely in order to maintain the disease.

Conventional Surgery

Many people turn to conventional surgery as a last resort. This surgery is a procedure to remove a small piece of eye tissue which enables fluid drainage as this creates a channel for the fluid to drain. However, the channel may begin to narrow at a later point in time, requiring another operation. This method can possibly cause corneal problems, infections and inflammation.

Laser Eye Surgery to Treat Glaucoma

Glaucoma patients are able to have this surgery on each eye, one at a time. Laser trabeculoplasty aids the eye’s draining process through the use of a high-intensity laser beam. The eyes drainage holes are stretched to give improved drainage and to lessen pressure in the eye.

Lifestyle Changes to Help Treat or Reduce Glaucoma

To reduce the possibility of contracting this disease, patients should not allow themselves to become overweight to prevent the onset of diabetes, as diabetics are twice as likely to suffer from glaucoma. Patients should also wear eye protection in order to avoid preventable eye injuries.

Even though LASIK surgery may not be an option for most glaucoma patients, a small proportion with a stable condition can be good candidates for the procedure. In addition, there are custom laser surgeries are available to help patients this problem. An appointment with a professional will enable you to determine if you are a good candidate for surgery.