Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma is an ailment that can cause blindness. In fact, it is the second leading cause of lost eyesight. This disease affects the optic nerve and leads to devastating damage. Sufferers of this ailment have increasing pressure in the region, which causes the problems.
Why does this happen? It happens because fluid, which is clear, begins to build up, creating pressure and discomfort. Clear fluids in the eye don’t drain as they should and this is what raises pressure levels and curtails vision. There are ways; however, to help sufferers of this malady. Once a person loses vision to this disease, it can’t be replaced. Further damage can be curtailed, however.
A red flag that glaucoma may be developing is a loss of vision in a person’s periphery. This is referred to as peripheral vision. Losing this aspect makes driving difficult because a motorist can’t see things off to the corners, such as oncoming traffic.
Treatments available include the older method of utilizing eye drops or a newer treatment using a laser. The eye drops are prescribed by ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors or surgeons who diagnose and treat diseases of the eyes. This is a doc with more advanced expertise and level of training than an optician or optometrist. An optician is a person who dispenses eyeglasses. An optometrist is a practitioner who screens vision and looks for difficulties.
The new treatment using a laser is called trabeculectomy. This is a surgical tactic to actually create a new drain in order to alleviate the buildup of fluid. This procedure takes about 20 minutes to perform. A tiny probe is placed to open the clogged drainage region with an incision. The small incision is put in the cornea. This process removes a piece of the old malfunctioning system in order to improve the functionality. This helps to maintain the current level of eye health and keep it stable. Reduced fluid buildup equates to reduced pressure and vision loss.
This procedure is performed by a board certified ophthalmologist in a hospital setting. Mild sedation allows the patients to be pain free during the operation. Recovery generally takes approximately one week. Even though lost vision cannot be recovered, the procedure has been a boon to many sufferers’ eyesight.
Glaucoma is most common in middle-aged or older individuals. If a person is forty years old, he or she should begin having regular screenings every couple of years. The recommended timeframe for screenings is anywhere between two and four years. This disease is not as uncommon as one would suspect. More than four million U.S. citizens have been afflicted by this malady.
Risk factors include individuals with diabetes, those who have had an eye injury, prolonged corticosteroid medication use, African-Americans, Hispanic genetics or a family member who has had the ailment.
Regular eye examinations by a trained doctor are recommended to rule out a variety of conditions including glaucoma. Vision screenings, proper prescription eyewear, and avoiding direct sunlight by wearing high quality sunglasses are all good ideas. Eyesight is a precious thing. We would all be wise to protect it in any way that we can.
