Glaucoma

glaucomaGlaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. Glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve. The nerve damage is usually related to increased pressure in the eye.

There are two major types of glaucoma:

  • Open-angle glaucoma; it is the most common form of the disease.
  • Closed-angle glaucoma; acute angle closure is a medical emergency.

Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. Vision loss is very gradual and you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is at an advanced stage. Having a regular eye exam that includes measurements of your eye pressure and evaluation of your optic nerve, a diagnosis can be made in its early stages and treated appropriately.

Glaucoma is diagnosed by measuring eye pressure, evaluating optic nerve, imaging, and visual field testing.

Available treatments for glaucoma are medication eye drops, laser, and surgery.