Basic Information Regarding Glaucoma San Antonio

By Daphne Bowen


It is important that people take care of the eyes. There are many problems that can arise in this part of the body, especially as a person ages. Glaucoma is the name for a condition that results in damage to the optic nerve of the eye. It gets worse over time and is often caused with a buildup of pressure within the eye. Often this condition is inherited and might not arise in people until they get older. Glaucoma San Antonio refers to the many professionals and services available to people with this condition who live in or around San Antonio TX.

Increase of pressure is referred to as intraocular pressure. This will destroy the optic nerve, which transmits images to the human brain. A damaged optic nerve can lead to vision loss because of the added pressure. Those who do not treat this problem can become blind within just a few years.

Sufferers may not notice symptoms early on. Even pain from the pressure may not be present. For this reason, regular eye check ups is encouraged for all people, especially those at higher risk. People above the age of 40 years old are more susceptible, as are those with diabetes or family history. Those with higher risk may want to have tests done annually.

This is a problem that will develop when there is too much pressure in the eyes. This is usually a problem for people who do not have enough eye fluid circulation. This fluid, also referred to as aqueous humor, must flow through the eyes by way of different channels. The channels might back up, leading to more pressure and the problem of glaucoma.

The direct cause for this blockage is not known, but doctors do know that this can be passed down from parents to children. Other potential causes: chemical or blunt eye injury, eye infection, blockage of blood vessels, inflammatory eye conditions, or eye surgery. Typically this condition arises in both eyes, but it might be present in different degrees.

Open-angle and angle-closure are two kinds of glaucoma seen in patients today. The most common is open-angle, also called wide-angle. This occurs in eyes that might appear normal, but do not have adequate amount of fluid flowing through them. Angle-closure glaucoma is different in that there is poor drainage in the eye that causes the problem. In these cases, the passageway between the cornea and iris is often too narrow, which leads to pressure buildup.

This is a health issue seen in people over 40. Still, it can develop in the youth and even babies. People are more likely to develop this if they have diabetes, use steroids or have experienced eye trauma. It is also more common in people with poor vision, diabetes or family history. Usually it comes without symptoms. However, some may recognize signs like loss of vision, halos around lights, eye redness, vomiting or cause, eye pain and haziness in the eyes.

Treatment will differ but often involves use of eyedrops, microsurgery or laser surgery. Each case will require its own technique. People are encouraged to learn as much as they can about the condition.




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