Glaucoma San Antonio Sufferers Rely On Early Detection And Control

Loss of eyesight impacts every single aspect of daily life. In past eras, those who went blind without benefit of social safety nets often ended life as beggars. While that is usually no longer the case, diseases like glaucoma still exact a severe personal toll, and still can result in visual impairment if not found and treated in the early stages. Glaucoma San Antonio patients continue fighting this scourge using medical advances and education.

The disease is a combination of conditions that often afflicts both eyes, and is commonly characterized by an internal increase in fluids and pressure. Under normal circumstances those liquids drain, equalizing the pressure. If that process is blocked, internal fluid builds, placing damaging pressure on nearby ocular structures including the optic nerve. There are two primary forms, closed and open angle glaucoma.

Because this eye disease progresses slowly, victims may not initially be physically aware of any problem. As time passes, damaged nerves slowly cause losses in peripheral vision, a process that may continue for years. In the final stages, all sight is severely affected and vision restricted to a narrow tunnel directly in front of the face. Closed angle disease can cause immediate problems with very prominent symptoms.

These signs of trouble include eye pain that may be harsh enough to cause vomiting and nausea. Electric lights may seem to have glowing auras, and adjusting to light intensity changes in different environments becomes harder. Age increases the chances of developing this problem, which can also be encouraged by genetic inheritance, the presence of other illnesses, and even recent eye surgery.

Early diagnosis is the key to successful long-term treatment. Standard eye exams for glasses include simple, painless pressure testing, and can quickly detect unnaturally high readings. Gonioscopy is another diagnostic tool that helps determine the extend of blockage in the angle between cornea and iris. Lateral vision deterioration is tested using perimetry equipment, and there are measurements to determine optic nerve damage.

If problems are discovered during an exam, treatment usually begins as soon as possible. As of yet there is no total cure for this type of complex eye degeneration, but progress can be slowed or even halted. While existing destruction is irreversible, there are significantly helpful eye drops that contain effective drugs, including beta blockers, fluid inhibitors, prostaglandin analogues, and chemicals that stimulate liquid flow.

If medication delivered via drops proves ineffective, surgery may relieve the pressure. Drainage passages are being unblocked today by skilled laser surgeons, and patients are benefiting from other methods designed to reduce interior forces manually. In some cases, an aqueous shunt is installed. A victim of acute-angle disease may be treated as an emergency, requiring immediate drug treatment or surgery to preserve vision.

San Antonio TX victims of this condition realize how important regular eye exams and early detection really are. Because many patients experience the disease for years without overt symptoms, only a physician can determine the extent and severity of the problem. Current technological advances have made early diagnosis simple, easy, and painless, and help preserve visual acuity as long as possible.