Glaucoma

Glaucoma can present as a progressive or acute disease. Glaucoma is a nerve condition that causes the nerve to degenerate. The optic nerve is a termination of a bundle of nerve fibers from all throughout the retina in your eye. It serves to send signals to the back of the brain and translates those signals into an image (essentially your vision). There are several different types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma, angle closure glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. 

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

The most common form of glaucoma. It is a chronic, progressive disease that causes degeneration of the optic nerve and vision loss. The classic presentation of primary open angle glaucoma is increased pressure in the eye. This increased pressure is a result of decreased outflow of fluid from the eye. Increase pressure in the eye causes damage to the nerve. It is also thought that the pressure causes decreased blood perfusion to the nerve which results in nerve damage and degeneration. 

Primary angle glaucoma is asymptomatic, therefore it is important to have your yearly eye health exam for preventative care.

Normal Tension Glaucoma

Similarly, to primary angle glaucoma except that the intraocular pressure is within normal ranges. Normal tension glaucoma is also a progressive disease that causes degeneration of the optic nerve and vision loss. It is believed to be due to decreased blood perfusion to the nerve and is thought that that their nerves are mores sensitive to pressure.

Normal tension glaucoma is asymptomatic, therefore it is important to have your yearly eye health exam for preventative care.

Angle Closure Glaucoma

Angle closure glaucoma is an acute or sudden onset disease. Angle closure glaucoma occurs when there is no outflow of fluid within the eye resulting in an accumulation of fluid within the eyes and, high intraocular pressure. The causes for the blockage in outflow can be do to having an anatomically narrow drainage system, vascular disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and cataracts. 

Acute angle closure is symptomatic. Symptoms include: Eye pain, red eye, blurry and cloudy vision. 

This type of glaucoma is an ocular emergency. If you are noticing any of these symptoms call an eye doctor immediately for assistance.

Secondary Glaucoma

Secondary glaucoma is caused by any factor that mechanically blocks the outflow of fluid within the eye. These factors include traumatic eye injury, inflammatory eye diseases, uncontrolled systemic vascular diseases, and eye diseases such as pigmentary dispersion syndrome, and pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Symptoms for secondary glaucoma can range from being asymptomatic or having symptoms such as eye pain, red eye, blurry and cloudy vision. 

Yearly eye health exams are important for preventative care. 

Risk Factors

  • Age – anyone over the age of 55 are at risk for the condition. Certain ethnicities are at a higher risk. African americans have an increased after the age of 40.

  • Race –African americans are at a higher risk for developing glaucoma 

  • Family history of glaucoma 

  • Traumatic injury to the eye

  • Vascular disease

  • Corticosteroid use 

Diagnosis

Risk factors are screened through a normal eye health examination. If your doctor notices any risk factors of glaucoma, they will order medical testing which may include optical coherence tomography, pachymetry, gonioscopy, and visual field testing to confirm the diagnosis. 

Treatment

Treatment depends on the type of glaucoma. The treatment ranges from anti-glaucoma medications, laser surgery and surgery. 

It is important to come in for your annual eye health examination with Dr. Jerry Cao at Two C Eye Care. Some forms of glaucoma are asymptomatic and can only be diagnosed through an eye health examination. Two C Eye Care has state of the art screening technology for early detection and management of glaucoma. Dr. Jerry Cao at Two C Eye Care in Manvel, TX screens for glaucoma in patients from Rosharon, Iowa Colony, Alvin, Pearland, Houston and surrounding areas. 

Call 346-978-0713 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jerry Cao in Manvel, TX

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Jerry Cao for your Annual Eye Health Examination to screen for Glaucoma.