Glaucoma FAQs Answered by a Conroe, TX Optometrist

At Today's Vision Conroe, serving Conroe, TX and the general vicinity, we know that our patients are more at risk for a condition like glaucoma as they age. Unfortunately, this condition can progress and cause you to lose your sight and not enjoy those special moments. This guide will help you understand the condition, what to expect during your evaluation, and what you can expect during treatment.

What is Glaucoma?

The term "glaucoma" describes a group of conditions that affect your optic nerve -- the portion of your eye responsible for communicating with your brain.

Unfortunately, this issue ranks as the leading cause of blindness in people over 60. Glaucoma can arise in people of all ages but is more prevalent in older adults.

What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

When you go to the optometrist for an appointment, your doctor will want to know about your symptoms to help diagnose the condition. The optometry practitioner will want to know if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Patchy blind spots in peripheral vision
• Patchy blind spots in central vision
• Tunnel vision
• Seeing halos around light
• Eye pain
• Blurry vision

Generally, you will not have any warning signs. The changes in your vision may happen gradually over time, so you may not even notice the changes until the condition worsens.

What Causes Glaucoma?

Glaucoma stems from damage to your optic nerve. Often, this occurs because of high pressure in your eye.

Moreover, glaucoma tends to run in families. In fact, scientists have pinpointed genes in some people that increased their risk of glaucoma.

How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?

First and foremost, you want to schedule routine optometry examinations, so you an optometrist can evaluate your eyes thoroughly. You will first be asked to fill out a medical history report. Once you visit our doctor, you can explain any vision issues that you have.

At this appointment, you will also receive a comprehensive eye evaluation to determine your visual acuity. To examine your vision for deficits with your central vision, our optometrist will use an Amsler grid.

Your eye doctor will then perform an eye health examination, which will include an evaluation of the pressure of your eyes since high eye pressure is often associated with glaucoma.

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

Eyedrops are one option that a doctor may prescribe, particularly for glaucoma in its early stages, to help manage the condition and slow the progression. The eye drops may help to reduce pressure in your eye, often by affecting the amount of fluid in your eye.

Glaucoma progresses slowly, but any damage your optic nerve sustains is permanent. With routine screenings, our eye doctor can detect problems early and help slow the progression.

Contact Today's Vision Conroe, serving Conroe, TX, and the surrounding region, for an appointment to assess your eyes for glaucoma by calling us at 936-788-2600.