Half of the individuals with glaucoma have no idea they have the condition. You can have a healthy start by knowing more about eye disease and if you can cure it. Read on to learn more.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma occurs due to pressure buildup in your eye, damaging your optic nerve. Further damage can lead to permanent vision loss or complete blindness after a few years.

Types of Glaucoma

Glaucoma comprises different types, and treatment depends on the type you have. 

The most common form of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma. The channels draining fluid from your eyes get clogged and cause an increase in eye pressure. People with this type of glaucoma may have few signs. If detected early, they can respond to medication well.

The less common type is acute angle-closure glaucoma. It often affects individuals with smaller eyes. The symptoms are sudden and intense. You will need urgent treatment to lower the eye pressure before you go for surgery to correct the problem.

Secondary glaucoma can occur after an eye injury or illness. Some medications, like steroids, can also cause this type of glaucoma.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma do not have symptoms until the disease advances to its further stages. Once the optic nerve gets severely damaged, you will begin experiencing blind spots in your vision field, and vision loss will also occur.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is less common. However, individuals with it experience eye redness, pain, and severe headaches. You can also have the same symptoms if you have secondary glaucoma.

You can miss early signs of glaucoma if you do not get regular screenings and access to eye health care. Lack of early detection can leave the condition to progress. As a result, you can experience permanent vision loss or blindness.

Glaucoma Cure

Glaucoma has no cure—it cannot be cured, and the lost vision cannot be restored. However, it is possible to prevent further vision loss through medication or a surgical procedure. You can also manage glaucoma with lifestyle changes.

Glaucoma Management and Treatment 

Glaucoma affects the peripheral vision first. You will not see your side when looking ahead. It later affects your central vision, hence how you will see objects and do tasks such as driving and reading.

A comprehensive dilated eye exam can help detect glaucoma early so that you can begin treatment. You can also maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, and keep your blood pressure under control. Quitting smoking will help manage or prevent glaucoma. Such healthy behaviors can also reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

There are various ways to treat glaucoma. Your eye doctor can prescribe oral medicine, eye drops, or a surgical procedure. They can also combine treatments to reduce the pressure in your eyes and protect you from losing your vision.

Ideally, take the prescribed medicine as instructed. Talk to your eye doctor in case you experience any side effects. Work as a team to prevent further vision loss. If they recommend a surgical or laser procedure, ensure you go for regular follow-up appointments to monitor your eye pressure.

For more about glaucoma, call Enochs Eye Care, Clarity Vision of Suffolk at (757) 638-2015 to discuss any questions or to book an appointment today.