Plano Location

(972) 519-0006

Prosper Location

(214) 305-4020

1170 North Preston Road Ste. 120 Prosper, TX 75078

1170 North Preston Road Ste. 120 Prosper, TX 75078

Glaucoma


Glaucoma is a group of serious conditions causing the pressure in your eyes to increase. The increased pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, affecting your peripheral vision, and is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over 60. Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma. However, the professionals at Eye Gallery can catch glaucoma in its early stages and create a treatment plan to help slow the progression of the disease.

glaucoma


Types of Glaucoma

There are two types of glaucoma we often see at our clinic, and open-angle is the most common type. This form occurs when the fluid in your eyes drains slowly, similar to a slow drain, causing your eye pressure to increase. Angle-closure glaucoma is less common, and the symptoms are more severe. This form occurs when the fluid cannot drain at all, causing a rapid increase in eye pressure.

Risk Factors

Anyone can develop glaucoma. However, certain factors can increase your risk of developing this condition, including:

  • Being 60 years old or older
  • Having a family history of glaucoma
  • Being extremely nearsighted or farsighted
  • Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
  • Previous eye injury or eye surgery
  • Taking corticosteroid medication for an extended period of time.

Glaucoma Symptoms

Open-angle glaucoma causes no early symptoms, making routine eye exams the only way to diagnose glaucoma early on. The symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma include:

  • Severe headaches
  • Severe eye pain
  • Eye redness
  • Blurry vision
  • Seeing halos around lights
  • Nausea and vomiting

Diagnosing Glaucoma

Glaucoma can be diagnosed during an eye exam. Our optometrists will use a tonometry test to measure your intraocular pressure. If your eye pressure is high, we can use gonioscopy to inspect the drainage angle, which is essential for the fluid to drain from your eyes. A visual field test can check for areas of vision loss. Our optometrists may also use a pachymetry test to measure the thickness of your cornea.

Treating Glaucoma

Although there is no cure for glaucoma, there are treatment options available to slow the progression of the disease. These include:

  • Eye drops: In the early stages, our eye doctors can prescribe drops to lower the pressure in your eyes.
  • Laser trabeculectomy: This treatment is designed to open the clogged channels, allowing the fluid to drain.
  • Filtering surgery: This procedure involves creating a small opening in the white of the eye to remove parts of the meshwork that prevents the fluid from draining.
  • Drainage tubes: A small shunt will be inserted in each eye, allowing eye fluid to drain more easily.

Contact Us for Your Next Eye and Vision Exam from Our Eye Doctors in Prosper

Regular vision exams at Eye Gallery are essential in catching glaucoma early. If our Prosper optometrists suspect you have glaucoma, we can provide early treatment to slow the disease's progression. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about how we can help, give us a call today.

 

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