Glaucoma is a serious condition that affects the eyes, and it can cause permanent vision loss if it’s not detected and treated early. This blog post will provide an overview of glaucoma, including how the drainage cycle works in a healthy eye, different types of glaucoma, risk factors for developing glaucoma, and why early diagnosis is so important.
How the Drainage Cycle Works in a Healthy Eye. Our eyes are filled with transparent fluids that keep them moist and working properly. These fluids enter from the front of the eye and exit at the back. The natural pressure inside your eye is regulated by this drainage cycle.
Different Types of Glaucoma. There are multiple types of glaucoma, but we’re going to focus on the two most common forms: angle-closure and open-angle. Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when fluid cannot drain properly through the trabecular meshwork because it has been blocked by an anatomical abnormality or narrow angle in the iris. Open-angle glaucoma develops when fluid drains too slowly due to damage to the trabecular meshwork or other structures near it.
Glaucoma Risk Factors: One of the biggest risk factors of glaucoma after age is heredity; if someone in your family has been diagnosed with this condition, you may be more likely to develop it as well. Other potential risk factors include race (African Americans over 40 have higher rates), diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, long-term use of certain medications such as steroids, previous eye injury or surgery, and having thin corneas or shallow anterior chamber depths in your eyes.
Early Diagnosis Makes a Huge Difference: Early detection is key when it comes to treating glaucoma; if you catch it early enough, you can potentially slow down its progression with treatments like prescription eye drops or laser surgery. However, if left untreated for too long, irreversible vision loss can occur due to optic nerve damage caused by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). That’s why regular comprehensive eye exams are so important – they can help detect any signs of trouble before major damage has occurred.
Glaucoma is a serious condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if not caught early enough. It occurs when fluid does not drain properly out of your eyes due to anatomical abnormalities or damage to certain structures near the trabecular meshwork. Risk factors include age, heredity, race (African Americans over 40 have higher rates), diabetes, high blood pressure/cholesterol levels, long-term use of certain medications such as steroids, previous eye injury/surgery and having thin corneas/shallow anterior chamber depths in your eyes. If you believe you may be at risk for developing glaucoma or have any other concerns about your vision health , make sure to schedule an appointment with an experienced ophthalmologist right away – early diagnosis makes all the difference!