Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that affects millions of people in the United States, making it the second most common cause of vision loss and blindness. In most cases, glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve from increased pressure in the eye. But what does this mean for your eyesight? Let’s take a closer look at glaucoma and how it impacts your eyesight.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition caused by damage to the optic nerve due to increased pressure in the eye. The pressure comes from a build-up of fluid in the eye which can lead to serious problems with your vision. Glaucoma can affect both adults and children and can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (developing later in life). It is important to get regular checkups to ensure that you are not developing glaucoma as it often has no symptoms until permanent vision loss occurs.
How Does Glaucoma Impact Your Vision?
The most common form of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, can cause gradual but progressive vision loss over time without any noticeable symptoms. This means that even if you don’t experience any discomfort or noticeable changes in your vision, your eyes may still be getting worse. Other forms of glaucoma such as closed-angle glaucoma can cause sudden vision loss including blindness if left untreated. Even if treated early, some people may still experience permanent vision loss from glaucoma.
The Effects of Treatment on Vision Loss
The good news is that treatment for glaucoma can help slow down or stop further damage to your vision. Depending on how advanced your case is, treatments like medications and laser surgeries may be able to reduce intraocular pressure and prevent further damage to the optic nerve. While treatment cannot fully restore lost vision caused by glaucoma, it can help slow down or stop further progression of the disease which will give you more time with better eyesight before any serious complications occur.
Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that affects millions of people each year and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated. However, with proper diagnosis and treatment, you can slow down or stop further damage caused by this disease so that you have more time with better eyesight before more serious complications occur. If you are experiencing changes in your eyesight or notice any other signs or symptoms related to glaucoma, make sure to speak with an optometrist right away for proper diagnosis and treatment options available for you!
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