Friday, August 29, 2014

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 cause of the disease can be attributed to the buildup of intraocular pressure from aqueous humor. This fluid is supposed to flow in and out of the eye. It normally exits the eye via the drainage system at the point where the cornea and the iris meet. The ineffective performance of the drainage in this case does not allow normal fluid filtration thus resulting to the accumulation of the fluid and creating pressure in the eye.

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.

The Angle-closure type has totally different symptoms as mostly the patient experiences pain in his/her eyes as well as nausea and vomiting. Patients similarly suffer from abrupt onset of vision impairment especially in faint light. Unclear vision is also experienced as a result of eye reddening and halos from lights rays. Other rare types of the illness include normal-tension, developmental and pigmentary glaucoma.

The disease can be troublesome, but with sufficient management its progression can be reduced hence lowering its adverse effects. Diagnosis and treatment at early stage is thus important to prevent or minimize destruction of the optic nerve and check vision problems of glaucoma. Conventional eye examination is thus important for patients to ensure intraocular pressure checkup.

The treatment and prevention of the condition begins with a comprehensive and regular eye checkup for all adults beginning from the age of 40. This should be done after every three to five years for those without glaucoma risk factors. On the other hand, screening needs to be done after every two years for those with the disease signs or those above 60 years old.

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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