Facts And Information On Glaucoma San Antonio

By Eloise Hewitt


The condition known as glaucoma is not just a single eye disease but a combination of conditions that lead to damage of the optic nerve. The damage of this nerve leads to loss of vision. Whenever there is an increase in intraocular pressure, the eyes are likely to get damaged. When considering glaucoma San Antonio residents ought to remember that it is among the leading causes of blindness. With this condition, vision is damaged so slowly that one may fail to realize. Most people realize only during the advanced stages.

Of the various types of this condition, the most common is primary-angle glaucoma. This has no noticeable symptoms other than the fact that it becomes more defined during the advanced stages. With early diagnosis and timely treatment, any damage to the optic nerve may be prevented. During the periodic examination of the eyes, there should be measurement of intraocular pressure.

Primary-angle and angle-closure glaucoma have very different symptoms. The first of the two, primary-angle, is of two types; gradual loss of peripheral vision in the two eyes and tunnel vision during the advanced stages. The other, angle-closure, has symptoms such as blurred vision, pain in the eyes, vomiting, sudden onset of visual disturbance and nausea. This condition is referred to as secondary when it can be traced to known causes and primary when the causes are unknown.

Patients are advised not to wait until the symptoms are in the advanced stages. The best way to detect this condition early is to go for regular check-ups. Some of the indicators to look out for are strong headaches, nausea, eye pain and halos around the eyes. Any such symptoms should be shared with the doctor.

There is the fluid known as aqueous humor that flows in and out of eyes. When the fluid builds up inside the eye, there is increased pressure. This fluid gets out of the eye via a drainage system that is at the angle where the iris and cornea meet. If in any case the drainage system does not work well, then the fluid does not filter normally from the eyes. There is thus pressure build-up in the eyes.

Some risk factors will make an individual more susceptible to the condition. Age is one of the crucial factors that determine how easily one may contract it. Persons that are 40 years and above are at more risk of contracting angle-closure glaucoma. African-Americans are more at risk of developing the condition, plus it affects much younger people. Mexican-Americans over 60 years are at higher risk.

People with a family history of the condition are more prone to suffer from it. There also is a defect on one or more genes and this makes some people more at risk than others. Further, heart diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure are some of the medical conditions that increase risk of glaucoma.

The main aim of treatment is reduction of pressure in the eyes. For treatment of this condition, the doctors may lower pressure of eyes, improve drainage of the eyes and also reduce amount of fluid produced in the eyes. It cannot be cured and damages resulting from it cannot be reversed. However, early detection prevents vision loss.




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