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What are the Different Types of Glaucoma? :: Annapolis, Maryland Eye Doctor

November 2, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center Leave a Comment

What many people do not realize is that the term glaucoma actually refers to a group of eye disease that lead to damage of the optic nerve, usually resulting from a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP). The optic nerve carries visual information from the eye to the brain.

The various types of glaucoma include:

Open-Angle Glaucoma: The most common form of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma is what most people think of when referring to glaucoma.

Low-Tension Glaucoma: Also known as normal-tension glaucoma, this form of the eye disease causes optic nerve damage and vision loss in people with normal intraocular eye pressure.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma: In this form of glaucoma, the fluid at the front of the eye cannot reach the angle to leave the eye, causing a sudden increase in eye pressure.

Congenital Glaucoma: Congenital glaucoma occurs when children are born with a defect in the angle of the eye, slowing the normal drainage of fluid and the eventual increase in eye pressure.

Pigmentary Glaucoma: This is a type of inherited open-angle glaucoma, which develops more frequently in men than in women and is most prevalent in individuals in their twenties and thirties.

Trauma-Related Glaucoma: Trauma to the eye can sometimes result in the development of glaucoma in the injured eye.

Pseudo-Exfoliation Glaucoma: This type of glaucoma is characterized by the production and progressive accumulation of a dandruff-like material in the ocular tissues.

Secondary Glaucoma: This refers to any glaucoma that develops as a complication of other medical conditions.

Glaucoma Detection and Treatment in Annapolis, Maryland

In its earliest stages, glaucoma presents little or no symptoms. Because of this, many patients can lose as much as 40% of their vision before even noticing, which is why glaucoma is sometimes referred to as the sneak thief of sight. And once a person begins to lose their vision, the damage is irreversible. This is why regular eye exams are so important.

With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can be managed. If left untreated, glaucoma can and does lead to total blindness.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Not only does an AAEC offer a wide range of advanced procedures to improve and preserve your vision, but board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles is passionate about further educating patients and their families about the eye disease they are afflicted with.

To learn more about Glaucoma, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

How Glaucoma affects Vision :: Glaucoma Treatment in Annapolis, Maryland

October 5, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center Leave a Comment

Caused by increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma is a disease that damages to the eye’s optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting images to the brain. Without treatment, glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness. Perhaps the scariest fact about Glaucoma, however, is that an individual can lose as much as 40% of their vision before ever noticing.

How Glaucoma at Varying Stages affects Vision

Mild Glaucoma: In its earliest stages, glaucoma may go unnoticed. At first, the eye disease only affects side vision (peripheral vision). This is why glaucoma has been nicknamed “the sneak thief of sight.”

Moderate Glaucoma: Over time, the damage to the peripheral vision will become worse and worse until it is actually noticeable. However, at this point, the patient may have already lost a significant portion of their vision. And once a person begins to lose their vision, the damage is irreversible.

Severe Glaucoma: In the severe stages of glaucoma, patients will have experienced extreme vision loss, including central vision. In fact, glaucoma is the second-leading cause of vision loss in the United States behind only cataracts.

Because glaucoma progress with no initial symptoms and because there is no cure for glaucoma, it is important to see your eye doctor regularly. Early detection of glaucoma can lead to earlier, simpler and more effective treatment. If left untreated, glaucoma can and does lead to total blindness.

Anne Arundel Eye Center: Treating Glaucoma in Annapolis, Maryland

According to Dr. Boles, “I treat my patients the way I want to be treated when I see a doctor.”

Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, Anne Arundel Eyes Center’s state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Glaucoma and your Eyes

Diagnosing Glaucoma with Visual Field Tests

September 7, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center Leave a Comment

To test for glaucoma – an eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve and peripheral vision – patients identified as at-risk for the condition will undergo a visual field test. For those who have been previously diagnosed with glaucoma, visual field testing is required to track the progression of the disease, monitor potential loss to the visual field, and adjust treatment approaches to ensure proper management of the condition.

Visual field tests evaluate both central and peripheral sight through a series of subjective examinations that measure the entire scope of an individual’s vision. They are utilized to help determine the total area in which objects can be seen in the peripheral vision while the eye is focused on a central point. Separately mapping the visual fields of both eyes, it requires the patient to understand and actively participate in the entire test to ensure accurate results.

Considered the gold standard for diagnosing glaucoma, automated perimetry – which is the measurement of visual fields – is one of the most commonly used methods of visual field testing. An advanced computerized examination issued by a trained technician, visual field testing requires the patient to look inside of a concave dome, where white lights of varying intensity will flash one at time in different places around the dome. With one eye covered, the examinee is instructed to press a button when he detects a light, which transmits a signal to the computer, allowing it to adjust the flashes by making them brighter or dimmer. The patient’s reactions help to determine if a visual field defect is present in his eyesight.

Visual field testing is recommended for glaucoma suspects and those who have already been diagnosed with the condition in order to track the progression of the disease on patient eyesight; it is covered by most healthcare insurance plans.

Those at risk for developing glaucoma include those with:

High Myopia (nearsightedness)

Ocular Hypertension (elevated eye pressure)

Thin Cornea – Central corneal thickness less than .5 mm

At Anne Arundel Eye Center, we offer visual field testing for patients with glaucoma or for those who might be at risk for glaucoma, and our doctors are dedicated to educating and informing patients about their condition while offering inclusive treatment and prevention plans.

To learn more about Visual Field Testing for Glaucoma, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, or consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank, and Dr. Corinne Casey, the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Visual Field Test