Glaucoma Management
in Daly City, CA
At a Glance: Glaucoma
Glaucoma often doesn’t have noticeable symptoms.
Eye damage from glaucoma is preventable.
Once vision is lost from glaucoma, it usually can’t be recovered.
Maybe you’ve heard that “the eyes are the windows to the soul.” Well, what happens when those windows become cloudy, and your view of the world is obscured? That is what happens for those living with glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that affects millions of people. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, after macular degeneration. And eye damage from glaucoma is preventable. Despite this, half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it. Unfortunately, many people don’t find out they have glaucoma until it’s too late.
As an optometrist, Dr. Koutoulas at Clear Vision Eyecare educates his patients about glaucoma. In this article, you’ll learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of glaucoma.
You'll also learn why it is essential to schedule regular eye exams with an eye doctor to detect and treat the condition early. Call us at Clear Vision Eyecare in Daly City to schedule a comprehensive eye exam today.
Glaucoma: “The Silent Thief of Sight”
Glaucoma can be sneaky. It often has no symptoms until its advanced stages. By then, the damage is done.
Many people don’t know that glaucoma is not a single disease. It is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve—the one that connects the eye to the brain. The optic nerve’s job is to send visual information from the eye to the brain. That’s why damage to it can result in vision loss or blindness.
The main cause of glaucoma is increased pressure in the eye. This can damage the optic nerve over time and cause vision loss.
Types and Causes of Glaucoma
There are several types of glaucoma. It is treated based on the type of glaucoma a person has.
Open-angle Glaucoma
Most common form of glaucoma – 90% of all cases.¹
Caused by pressure buildup up in your eye when fluid can’t drain fast enough.
Affects peripheral vision first.
Develops over time without noticeable symptoms until vision loss is permanent.
Causes patchy blindness, tunnel vision, and eventually total blindness.
Higher risk for people with high blood pressure or diabetes.
Best prevention: regular comprehensive eye exams with an eye doctor to screen for this type of glaucoma.
Angle-closure Glaucoma
Medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.
Symptoms come on suddenly. They include intense eye pain, red eye, blurry vision, upset stomach, and headache.
Happens when fluid drainage is partially or completely blocked, causing a sudden rise in eye pressure.
Normal-tension glaucoma
Rare.
Happens when the optic nerve is damaged even though the eye pressure is normal.
Experts aren’t sure exactly what causes it.
Treatments that lower eye pressure can slow the progression and prevent vision loss.
Higher risk for people with a family history of normal-tension glaucoma, certain heart problems, low blood pressure, and Japanese ancestry,
Secondary Glaucomas
Secondary glaucomas are caused by another eye condition or injury, such as:
Inflammation or trauma to the eye.
Uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure.
Complication of eye surgeries.
Cataracts.
Tumors.
Uveitis, which causes inflammation.
Congenital Glaucoma
Rare; only affects 1 in 10,000 babies born in the U.S.
Happens when a baby is born with a problem that keeps eye fluid from draining properly.
Usually symptoms are noticeable right away. They include excessive tearing, cloudiness of the eyes, large or protruding eyes, and light sensitivity.
Surgery works well to treat congenital glaucoma and usually prevents permanent vision loss.
Pigmentary Glaucoma
Rare.
Happens when color (“pigment”) from the iris sheds and keeps fluid from draining out of your eye.
Symptoms: blurry vision, seeing rainbow-colored rings around lights, especially during exercise.
There is no way to prevent pigment shedding, but eye doctors can treat pigmentary glaucoma by lowering eye pressure.
Risk Factors for Glaucoma
Experts don’t know exactly what causes glaucoma. But there are several risk factors associated with the condition.
Age – The risk of developing glaucoma increases as we get older.
Family history.
High eye pressure.
Thin corneas.
Medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
How Does Dr. Koutoulas Diagnose Glaucoma?
Dr. Koutoulas uses the latest in-office technology to screen and diagnose glaucoma. Some of the tests include:
Measurement of the eye pressure.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).
Use of a retinal camera.
Dilated exam to assess optic nerve damage.
Visual acuity test.
Visual field test, which measures your peripheral vision.
Measurement of corneal thickness.
Assessment of eye drainage system.
How Does Dr. Koutoulas Treat Glaucoma?
If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, Dr. Koutoulas will work with you to develop a treatment plan based on your specific type of glaucoma and its severity. Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, oral medication, laser therapy, surgery, and lifestyle changes.
Prevention is essential, and the best way to prevent damage from glaucoma is to undergo regular eye exams. It's crucial to detect and treat it early. Other preventative measures include:
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Protecting your eyes from injury.
Managing any medical conditions that increase your risk of developing glaucoma.
How to Prevent Vision Loss from Glaucoma
Luckily, you have the power to help protect your eyes and lower your risk of vision loss from glaucoma.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following prevention measures²:
If you are in a high-risk group, get a comprehensive dilated eye exam to catch glaucoma early and start treatment.
Even if you are not in a high-risk group, get a comprehensive dilated eye exam by age 40 to catch glaucoma and other eye diseases early.
The most common form of glaucoma – open-angle glaucoma – is hereditary and doesn’t have symptoms. So talk to your family members about their vision health to help protect your eyes and theirs.
Be physically active, avoid smoking, and control your blood pressure to avoid vision loss from glaucoma.
Take medicine as prescribed.
Tell your eye doctor about any symptoms or medication side effects.
Your doctor may recommend laser or surgical procedures to reduce the pressure in your eye. If you undergo treatment, attend regular follow-up visits to continue monitoring eye pressure.
Schedule an Eye Exam for Glaucoma Management Near You in Daly City, CA
Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated. Getting regular eye exams by an optometrist can help you detect and treat glaucoma early.
Now that you’ve learned about glaucoma, take steps to reduce your risk of vision loss from this sneaky condition. If you’re in the area of Daly City, California, schedule your comprehensive eye exam at Clear Vision Eyecare today!
