Thanks to public awareness campaigns for health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, more people than ever before are aware of the signs and symptoms of problems that deserve immediate medical attention. Glaucoma is another such condition that should not be ignored, but you may not know as much about it. As an eye disease that stealthily and subtly steals your vision, glaucoma eventually leads to blindness without timely treatment. Here is everything you should know about living with glaucoma.
Why Does Glaucoma Develop?
Glaucoma can impact children, teens, and adults alike, though certain demographics like African Americans are more at risk than others. The condition is most commonly a result of dysfunctional drainage within the eye. The front part of each eye is filled with a clear fluid called intraocular fluid or aqueous humor. It is supposed to flow out through the pupil and be absorbed into the bloodstream through the eye’s drainage system. When this system works efficiently, eye pressure remains at a normal level and keeps the eye healthy.
Glaucoma forms when the eye’s careful balance between drainage and production of aqueous fluid becomes unbalanced. Too much fluid clogs the drainage system, builds pressure inside the eye, and ultimately damages the retina’s optic nerve. Each eye’s optic nerve is incredibly sensitive, and it is responsible for transporting images to the brain.
How Do I Know If I Have Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a sneaky disease because its symptoms develop so gradually over time that you might not even notice them occurring. Peripheral vision is usually impacted first. You might also experience hazy vision, eye and head pain, and the appearance of rainbow-colored circle around bright lights. You are most likely to have glaucoma if you are over the age of 60, of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent, use steroid medications, or have relatives with glaucoma.
Regular eye exams are the best and easiest way to help you identify glaucoma early, while it can still be treated. Before age 40, get tested every two to four years. By the time you enter your 60s, it’s best to get checked at least once per year.
What Treatment Will I Need?
While Glaucoma does not have a direct cure, early diagnosis and proper treatment can keep glaucoma controlled and prevent loss of vision. You will need to keep your eye pressure under control using glaucoma medication. Eye drops have always been a popular form of glaucoma medication, but Dr. Mahootchi at The Eye Clinic of Florida recently began using an innovative alternative called the Xen stent.
The Xen stent consists of a soft, incredibly narrow stent derived from collagen and a preloaded injector. Using an incision in the cornea, the preloaded injector implants the tiny stent into the eye. Since the Xen relieves pressure by creating a new pathway for aqueous flow to a safer space within the eye, it doesn’t take long for abnormally high pressure to diminish and minimize the risk of vision loss and blindness. Call (813) 779-3338 to schedule a free screening and learn more from Dr. Mahootchi about using the Xen stent to save your vision from glaucoma.