The Signs of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a very serious condition of the eye. It is characterized by an increase in eye pressure, which can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve. Although there is no cure for glaucoma, the professionals at Gregg Family Eye Care in Secan can provide treatment options to slow the progression of the disease.

What Are the Signs of Glaucoma?

The signs of glaucoma depend on the type of glaucoma that you have. The most common type is open-angle glaucoma. This type occurs when your eye's drainage system is not working properly, causing the fluid to drain slowly, similar to a slow sink drain. When the fluid cannot drain fast enough, it causes an increase in the pressure in your eyes. In the early stages, open-angle glaucoma shows no symptoms. As the disease progresses, open-angle glaucoma causes loss of your side vision and eventually, it can lead to permanent vision loss.

Angle-closure glaucoma is less common. It occurs when your eye's drainage system stops functioning completely. When the fluid cannot drain at all, it causes a rapid increase in eye pressure, which causes severe symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Severe eye pain
• Severe headaches
• Blurry vision
• Seeing halos around lights
• Redness of the eye
• Nausea and vomiting

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

The treatment options for glaucoma depends on the type of glaucoma that you have. If you have open-angle glaucoma, our optometrist may want to monitor your condition at first. As the condition progresses, there are treatment options available. These options include eye drops to lower the pressure in your eyes and laser eye surgery.

Find Quality Eye Care in Secan, PA

Because glaucoma is such a serious condition and the early stages often have no symptoms, it is essential to schedule an eye exam every year at Gregg Family Eye Care in Secan, PA. Our optometrist will test the pressure in your eyes during the exam to check for glaucoma. Call us today at 610-543-1219 to schedule your eye exam appointment.