Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition where your eye’s optic nerve gets damaged. When this happens, you gradually lose your sight, including your peripheral vision. Early detection of glaucoma is crucial to protect your vision.

What is Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss for people over 60 years old. It happens when the optic nerve becomes damaged due to the buildup of fluid that flows inside the eye.

Our eyes constantly create a fluid called aqueous humor, which flows in and out of the eye. Normally, it drains out through an area called the drainage angle, where the iris and the cornea meet. This process keeps the pressure in the eye stable. But if the drainage doesn’t work properly, the fluid builds up, which in turn causes the pressure to build up too. This increase in pressure is what damages the optic nerve.

When the optic nerve gets damaged, you may start to see blind spots in your vision. The optic nerve is comprised of a million tiny fiber nerves that send visual messages to your brain to help you see. When all of the optic nerve fibers die, you will become blind.

Symptoms & Risk Factors

Common symptoms of glaucoma include:

• • Pain
• • Seeing halos
• • Headache
• • Blurred vision
• • Mid-dilated pupil
• • Losing peripheral vision

Certain individuals may be at higher risk of getting glaucoma. This includes people who:

• • Have hypertension or diabetes
• • Use large dosages of corticosteroids
• • Have high farsightedness or nearsightedness
• • Are over the age of 40
• • Are of Hispanic, African, or Asian heritage

How to Manage Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a permanent condition, but its progression can be slowed down or stopped with early treatment and detection. The only way to diagnose glaucoma properly is to get a comprehensive eye exam. At George Optical, we offer EyeCare360, a comprehensive eye exam that goes beyond checking your vision by also examining the internal and external structures of your eyes. Having regular eye exams can help you detect this disease during its early stages, before a lot of damage even occurs.