Facts About Glaucoma San Antonio Residents Need To Know

By Marlene Blevins


Glaucoma is a group of eye infections that result to optic nerve damage eventually leading to complete loss of vision. It gradually damages the vision and may not be noticed until when it reaches an advanced stage. It is one of the major causes of blindness in most parts of the world, especially in the United States. Before treating glaucoma San Antonio dwellers need to understand some facts.

The main cause of the illness is said to be aqueous humor building up from intraocular pressure. This fluid usually leaves the eye through a drainage system between the iris and the cornea. Any inefficient performance in the system affects the filtration of the fluid and hence causing its accumulation that in the long run results to intraocular pressure.

The disease can be categorized into different forms, either as primary when the cause is unknown or secondary when the problem can be traced to a known cause. The most common type is the primary open-angle glaucoma. The open-angle is a form of the disease that has no noticeable symptoms or signs except gradual loss of vision. Its symptoms include gradual loss of peripheral vision that affects both eyes and tunnel vision in the acute stages.

Angle-closure glaucoma has completely different symptoms. The infected person mostly feels pain in the eyes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The patient also experiences sudden onset of visual disturbance especially in low light. There is also blurred vision due to reddening of the eye and halos around lights. Other rare types of the disease are pigmentary, developmental and normal-tension glaucoma.

Even though the condition can be devastating, appropriate management progression can slow the infection and hence minimizing the adverse effects. Early diagnosis and treatment are thereby important for minimizing or preventing optic nerve destruction and limiting related vision problems. Regular examination of the eye with San Antonio TX eye specialists should be done regularly in order for one to be sure of his/her intraocular pressure.

The treatment of the disease begins with the regular and complete eye examination for all adults above 40 years old. It can be done in periods ranging from 3-5 years, for persons without the signs of the illness. Screening is also necessary within a two years interval for people showing signs of glaucoma or those over sixty years of age.

Measures like checking of the visual fields, contrast sensitivity and intraocular pressure are also part of standard care for the disease and are important for its successful management. They can provide information that enables the doctor to select the best mode of treatment. The latter includes things like referral to a low vision specialist.

Occupation therapists may also help the infected persons by advancing lighting systems in their residential areas or recommending suitable equipment for use. They can also train the patients on the use of the adopted equipments. Lighthouse International or American foundation for the blind are institutions that provide sufficient resources to patients adapting loss of vision. San Antonio TX physicians will normally refer you to them when necessary.

Discussing and sharing ones condition of glaucoma is therefore necessary in improving on communication and better treatment by the optician. It essential for one to be well informed, make healthy choices and be organized in keeping a health routine that will be helpful in managing the disease. For those who do not have it then such information can help them prevent it.




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