Glaucoma

Blindness is a condition that can leave an individual very devastated because they can no longer see those they love and do most things they once enjoyed.  Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.  The scary part is that glaucoma can cause damage so slowly that you may not notice any vision loss until the disease has become advanced.  Therefore, the more advanced glaucoma is, the less chance you will have at treatment being as effective.  Glaucoma is not just one specific disease of the eye; it is a group of eye conditions that result in damage to your optic nerve that will generally lead to vision loss.

Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma is the key to minimize or prevent damage to your optic nerve and limit vision loss related to glaucoma.  Total Home Health wants to emphasize to you just how important a regular eye examination is in order to maintain your eye health and prevent potential problems that could be devastating to you.  A majority of the time, glaucoma causes vision damage because of an abnormally high intraocular pressure (a pressure inside your eye)…so it is important that your eye doctor measures this level routinely.

There are different types of glaucoma and the most common types include open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma.  These two types have completely different symptoms.

            Open-Angle Glaucoma Signs & Symptoms

ü  Gradual loss of peripheral vision, usually in both eyes

ü  In advanced stages you will notice tunnel vision

            Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma Signs and Symptoms

ü  Pain in the eye

ü  Nausea and vomiting

ü  Sudden onset of vision disturbance

ü  Blurry vision

ü  Seeing “halos” around lights

ü  Noticing redness in the eye

Both types listed above can either be primary or secondary conditions.  They are primary when the cause is unknown and secondary when the condition can be linked to a known cause, such as an eye injury, medications, diabetes, etc.  Don’t put off your eye exam any longer, go before your problems start…it could make your life easier.  Your provider and our professionals at Total Home Health will keep you well informed regarding the type of glaucoma you are affected with in order to continually adjust your treatment and keep your vision the best it can be.

            Glaucoma Risk Factors

ü  Increased internal eye pressure

ü  Over age 40, especially over age 60

ü  African-Americans over age 40 have an increased risk

ü  Family history of glaucoma

ü  Medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypothyroidism

ü  Eye injury, eye tumors, retinal detachment, eye inflammation

ü  Long-term corticosteroid use, especially eye drops.

Once you seek medical attention for any changes you notice in your vision, your provider will complete a comprehensive eye examination and thoroughly review your medical history.  To get prepared, here is a list and simple explanation of several tests will be completed during your eye doctor visit in order to diagnose glaucoma, including:

            Measuring Intraocular Pressure

ü  This is completed by a Tonometry procedure.  This procedure is simple and painless.  It is done after your eyes are numbed with eye drops.  Tonometry is usually the initial screening test to diagnose glaucoma by determining the level of pressure in your eyes.

            Testing the Optic Nerve

ü  To check for damage in the optic nerve, your eye doctor will look into your eye with various instruments.

            Visual Field Test

ü  A special test will be completed to test your side (peripheral) vision.

            Visual Acuity

ü  Your ability to see from a distance will be evaluated during this test.

            Measuring Cornea Thickness

ü  Your eyes are numbed for this, don’t worry.  Once the thickness of your cornea is determined, it will be compared to your eye pressure…and so on.  The higher the pressure, the more likely it is that you have glaucoma.

The ultimate goal for treatment if you have glaucoma is to lower the pressure in your eye and keep it under control.  Glaucoma cannot be cured and any damage that has happened because of it cannot be reversed.  However, treatment and having regular eye checkups can prevent vision loss in people with glaucoma caught in earlier stages.  But, if vision loss has already occurred, treatment can slow or prevent any more vision loss in the future.  Treatment can range from eye drops, to oral medications, to surgery.  Your provider will decide what treatment method is best for you, and then Total Home Health will maintain your vision health once you return home.

           

Total Home Health has a program that is right for your needs related to glaucoma.  This condition can result in total blindness if left untreated.  Our health professionals will be very involved in your care and see that you receive the best treatment possible so that you do not become a statistic of glaucoma.  There are ways to slow glaucoma down and maybe even prevent total blindness completely…Total Home Health wants to show you how!  Enroll today to be on your way to never losing sight of the future and living your life the best you possibly can.