Complete Glaucoma Treatment and Care in Enfield CT
At Emily Eye Care we believe that glaucoma care and treatment is a team effort. We want to help you to prevent vision loss and eye damage. Our Enfield optometrists will help educate you in proper eye care at home and in between visits to your eye doctor.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a very common eye disorder affecting millions of Americans. Our Enfield eye doctors call Glaucoma the “silent thief of vision” because it can cause a loss of vision slowly over a period of years, with out you ever noticing.
Many forms of Glaucoma are caused by too much pressure on the inside of the eye. Fluid in your eyes helps to nourish and cleanse the inside of your eyes by constantly flowing in and out. When the fluid is prevented from flowing out, the intraocular pressure builds and damages the optic nerve. This causes a gradual loss in peripheral vision.
Types of Glaucoma
There are many types of glaucoma. The two most common types are open angle and angle closure. These can be identified an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), or a build up of pressure in your eye.
- Open Angle Glaucoma
- Angle Closure Glaucoma
- Normal tension Glaucoma (NTG)
- Congenital Glaucoma
- Secondary Glaucoma
- Pigmentary Glaucoma
- Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma
- Traumatic Glaucoma
- Neovascular Glaucoma
- Irido Corneal Endothelial Syndrome (ICE)
Symptoms of Glaucoma
Those suffering from open angle glaucoma experience a type of tunnel vision, where their field of vision gradually decreases. It can eventually lead to blindness. Narrow-angle glaucoma, which is rare, carries symptoms of sharp pain in the eyes, blurred vision, dilated pupils, and even nausea or vomiting. It can cause blindness in a matter of days, and requires immediate medical attention.
Risk Factors
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness after cataracts. Heredity seems to be a risk factor. Also, you may be at greater risk if you are over 45, of African descent, near-sighted, or diabetic. Finally, if you have used steroids or cortisone for a long period of time, or if you have suffered an eye injury in the past, you have a greater chance of developing glaucoma.
