Glaucoma is a well-known eye condition that is not well known. Wait, what? What we mean by this is that while most people have heard of glaucoma, many do not know much about this eye condition, or more accurately a group of eye conditions. According to a 2002 survey by Prevent Blindness America, an astonishing 80% of respondents had no idea what glaucoma was.
What is Glaucoma?
There are many forms of glaucoma (as many as 70-80). Most stem from increased intraocular pressure (IOP), or outside factors, such as trauma or disease, and damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for carrying visual signals to the brain.
At first, vision loss due to glaucoma is almost unnoticeable. There are no warning signs, no symptoms.
Normal eye pressure is 12-21 mm Hg. Anything above 21 is considered elevated.
What is the Best Way to Prevent Vision Loss Due to Glaucoma?
Currently, there are 60 million people worldwide (2.2 million Americans) afflicted with glaucoma. What’s scarier is that roughly half of those people – nearly 30 million people – don’t even know they have glaucoma. How is this possible? At first, vision loss due to glaucoma is almost unnoticeable. There are no warning signs, no symptoms. As a result, a person can lose as much as 40% of his or her vision before they even notice a difference.
So what is the best way to prevent such vision loss? Regularly Scheduled Eye Exams. Only a compressive eye exam, including tonometry, visual field exam, visual acuity, and a dilated eye exam can determine if glaucoma is present.
If caught early and treated properly, vision loss due to glaucoma can be stopped 95% of the time. When was your last eye exam?
Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment in Maryland
The Anne Arundel Eye Center is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Led by board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, AAEC offers complete ophthalmic exams, as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Over the years, Dr. Boles and his staff have helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision. They can help you too.
Dr. Boles will diagnose your specific condition and make recommendations for treatment and future glaucoma management.
If you have any questions about Glaucoma Treatment or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC), please contact Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or Click Here to fill out our contact form.
You can also follow AAEC on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.