Glaucoma Treatment From Our Orlando Optometrists
Even if you’ve had no vision issues in the past, you may be at risk for developing glaucoma. Glaucoma treatment in Orlando FL is extremely effective when the disease is caught early, which is just one of many good reasons to make an appointment with one of our excellent optometrists, Dr. Ben Konynenbelt and Dr. John Nowell. In addition to glaucoma screenings and treatment, we also offer a wide range of eye care services, including eye exams, LASIK eye surgery, contact lens fittings, and more.
Causes and Symptoms of Glaucoma
The direct cause of glaucoma is an increased pressure within your eye that eventually compresses the optic nerve. The damage to the optic nerve is what causes the vision loss associated with the disease, but the increased intraocular pressure can occur for a variety of reasons.
One of the hardest things about diagnosing glaucoma is that it almost always has no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. As the disease progresses, however, it causes a loss of peripheral vision that gradually increases until nearly the entire visual field is obscured. In addition to direct vision loss, glaucoma symptoms can also include seeing halos around lights, eye pain, and eye redness.
Arriving at A Glaucoma Diagnosis
Typical screenings for glaucoma begin with a measurement of your intraocular pressure or the pressure within your eye. If this registers as high, we’ll move on to some more in-depth tests, including an ophthalmoscopy that allows us to examine your optic nerve and the small blood vessels within your eye directly.
Tests of your peripheral vision will also be performed to determine if it’s already diminished. We may take photos of your optic nerve to track the progression of damage over time, and we’ll also maintain records of your peripheral field tests to compare on future exams.
Professional Glaucoma Treatment in Orlando FL
Depending on the specific nature of your condition, our glaucoma treatment in Orlando FL may focus on reducing your intraocular pressure through medication, surgery, or some combination of the two. Surgical options include trabeculoplasty and iridotomy, both of which help increase the drainage of fluid from your eye. Another option is cyclophotocoagulation, which focuses on reducing the amount of fluid your eye produces.
These treatments can be greatly effective in stopping the progression of glaucoma, allowing you to maintain your current level of vision. Any vision you’ve lost, however, cannot be recovered, which is why it’s so important to schedule the routine screenings that allow us to catch the disease in its early stages.
To learn more about the full range of vision services we offer, or to schedule an appointment, call our offices today at (407) 271-8931.