Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by damage to the optic nerve. Because of the increasing pressure in the eye, glaucoma can get worse over time and lead to irreversible vision loss. It is common among older people and it often runs in families. If you need glaucoma treatment and screening, we at Medina Eye Care in San Antonio, TX, and Castroville, TX, are here to help.
What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?
To understand what symptoms of glaucoma are, it can be use to know two types. The first type is open-angle glaucoma, and it is the most common type. The second one is angle-closure glaucoma.
With open-angle glaucoma, a person may not have any symptoms until this condition has already damaged the eye. This is why it is important to detect it early with an eye exam.
Angle-closure glaucoma has more apparent symptoms and they appear faster and they are more obvious. Angle-closure glaucoma can cause serious damage very fast. For this reason, if you notice any of the following symptoms, it is important to see an eye doctor immediately:
- Severe headache
- Nausea
- Eye pain
What Are the Risk Factors?
There are certain risk factors that can increase the likelihood of the development of glaucoma. The first risk factor is age: glaucoma usually affects individuals over the age of 60. Having a family history of glaucoma also increases your chances of getting it in the future. The third common factor is ethnicity. Certain ethnic groups, such as people of African descent, are more prone to developing glaucoma.
How Is Glaucoma Treated?
Here are some ways that glaucoma can be treated:
- Eye drops: Their purpose is to reduce eye pressure.
- Oral medication: Our optometrist might also prescribe oral medications.
- Glaucoma surgery: The purpose of the surgery can be the creation another route that can be used for taking the fluid out of the eye. Although we do not offer glaucoma surgery, we can recommend you to a surgeon that does.
Get Eye Care from Our Optometrist for Glaucoma
If you have eye pain or other eye problems, see our optometrist for diagnosis and treatment. If you live in (210) 225-4141 San Antonio, TX, (830) 931-2328 Castroville, TX, or any other nearby area, we at Medina Eye Care can be your perfect choice. We can help treat various eye conditions, including glaucoma as well. For further information or for scheduling your first appointment, feel free to give us a call.