Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which excess fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging your optic nerve. Over time, this fluid backup can cause you to lose your vision.

Glaucoma is a set of diseases.  It doesn’t usually show symptoms before you suffer vision loss, so regular screenings are essential. Dr. Zair-Yalda is available full-time to test for and diagnose glaucoma to identify the condition early. Early diagnosis improves the chances of saving your vision.

Glaucoma most frequently shows up in older adults, but it can develop in younger people as well.

What is open-angle glaucoma?

Most people with glaucoma have open-angle glaucoma. It accounts for 90% of all cases.

Open-angle glaucoma is diagnosed when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged. This blockage causes pressure to build up behind the eye. The process happens gradually, so you don’t notice any symptoms until your vision starts to deteriorate.

You’ll first notice a loss of side (peripheral) vision, but you tend to naturally compensate for the loss by turning your head from side to side.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Dr. Zair-Yalda usually diagnoses glaucoma during your regular eye exam. It’s important to schedule these visits, especially if you have a history of glaucoma in your family.

To check for the signs of glaucoma, Dr. Zair-Yalda measures the pressure inside your eye, called interocular pressure. She uses a procedure called optical coherence tomography (OCT) to see your optic nerve and determine if it’s been damaged. Another test, called retinal photography, can also be done. It involves taking a digital picture of the back of the eye to get a better look at the optic nerve and retina.

If Dr. Zair-Yalda sees anything that suggests damage, she’ll have you undergo a visual field test to measure your central and peripheral vision.

She’ll also examine the health of your optic nerve. The optic nerve is usually cupped in a round or slightly oval shape. In glaucoma patients, the rim of the cup can be enlarged or show other changes.

How is glaucoma treated?

Any vision you lose to glaucoma can’t be gotten back. The condition can’t be cured, but it can be stopped. This is why you benefit from regular eye exams to check for glaucoma. The earlier it’s caught, the better your outcome.

Dr. Zair-Yalda can prescribe eye drops that lower your eye pressure and preserve your vision.

For comprehensive eye care that includes glaucoma evaluation and treatment, call Professional Contact Lens and Optical Clinic today for an appointment or use the online tool to schedule.