Facts About Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can
damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and
blindness. However, with early treatment, you can often protect
your eyes against serious vision loss.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
If glaucoma remains untreated, people may miss objects to
the side and out of the corner of their eye. Without treatment,
people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral (side)
vision.
They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time,
straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.
Treatment for Glaucoma
Glaucoma treatments include medicines, laser
trabeculoplasty, conventional surgery, or a combination of any
of these. While these treatments may save remaining vision,
they do not improve sight already lost from glaucoma.
Medicines. Medicines, in the form of eyedrops or pills, are
the most common early treatment for glaucoma. Some medicines
cause the eye to make less fluid. Others lower pressure by
helping fluid drain from the eye.
Before you begin glaucoma treatment, tell your eye care
professional about other medicines you may be taking. Sometimes
the drops can interfere with the way other medicines work.
Glaucoma medicines may be taken several times a day. Most
people have no problems. However, some medicines can cause
headaches or other side effects. For example, drops may cause
stinging, burning, and redness in the eyes.
Many drugs are available to treat glaucoma. If you have
problems with one medicine, tell your eye care professional.
Treatment with a different dose or a new drug may be
possible.
Reference for Glaucoma Article
National Institutes of Health
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