What is a Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. However, with early treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss.

Does increased eye pressure mean that I have glaucoma?

Not necessarily. Increased eye pressure means you are at risk for glaucoma, but does not mean you have the disease. A person has glaucoma only if the optic nerve is damaged. If you have increased eye pressure but no damage to the optic nerve, you do not have glaucoma. However, you are at risk. Follow the advice of your eye care professional.

Will I develop glaucoma if I have increased eye pressure?

Normal Vision

Not necessarily. Not every person with increased eye pressure will develop glaucoma. Some people can tolerate higher eye pressure better than others. Also, a certain level of eye pressure may be high for one person but normal for another. Whether you develop glaucoma depends on the level of pressure your optic nerve can tolerate without being damaged. This level is different for each person. That's why a comprehensive dilated eye exam is very important. It can help your eye care professional determine what level of eye pressure is normal for you.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma

At first, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms. It causes no pain. Vision stays normal.

As glaucoma remains untreated, people may miss objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

Can I develop glaucoma without an increase in my eye pressure?

Yes. Glaucoma can develop without increased eye pressure. This form of glaucoma is called normal-tension glaucoma.

Who is at risk for open-angle glaucoma?

  • African Americans over age 40.
  • Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans.
  • People with a family history of glaucoma.

How is glaucoma detected?

Glaucoma is detected through a comprehensive eye exam. Certain findings in an eye examination can raise the suspicion of glaucoma. These can include:

  • Elevated Intraocular Pressure
  • Enlarged optic nerve cup
  • A pupil defect
  • A strong family history of glaucoma
  • Indication of a loss of peripheral vision

If there is suspicion of glaucoma, other tests may be recommended to further determine if glaucoma exists or not.  These can include an automated peripheral vision test (visual field), an optic nerve scan using an imaging device, photographs of the optic nerve, pachymetry (corneal thickness), or multiple pressure readings.  At Consultative Eye Care, we have all the instrumentation to evaluate your eyes for glaucoma as thoroughly as possible.

Can glaucoma be cured?

No. There is no cure for glaucoma. Vision lost from the disease cannot be restored.

Can glaucoma be treated?

Yes. Immediate treatment for early stage, open-angle glaucoma can delay progression of the disease. That's why early diagnosis is very important. Glaucoma treatments include medicines, laser trabeculoplasty, conventional surgery, or a combination of any of these. While these treatments may save remaining vision, they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma. Ask the eye care professionals at Consultative Eye Care which treatment option is best for you.

What can I do to protect my vision?

If you are being treated for glaucoma, be sure to take your glaucoma medicine every day. See your eye care professional regularly. You also can help protect the vision of family members and friends who may be at high risk for glaucoma--African Americans over age 40; everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans; and people with a family history of the disease. Encourage them to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years. Remember: Lowering eye pressure in glaucoma's early stages slows progression of the disease and helps save vision. Medicare covers an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam for some people at high risk for glaucoma. These people include those with diabetes, those with a family history of glaucoma, and African Americans age 50 and older.

At Consultative Eye Care, we are specialists in glaucoma care.  We have the technology to detect glaucoma earlier than most offices, and that means less risk of vision loss to you.  Dr. Jason Jedlicka has advanced training in care of glaucoma and has educated other eye care professionals in the area of glaucoma.  If you have glaucoma, have a high risk for glaucoma, or just want to find out for sure if glaucoma is a concern for you, please call and schedule an evaluation with Dr. Jedlicka for a glaucoma evaluation.