“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve, which carries information from the eye to the brain. The most common type of glaucoma is called open-angle glaucoma, which develops slowly over time and often has no symptoms until significant vision loss has occurred. Other types of glaucoma include angle-closure glaucoma, which can develop suddenly and cause rapid vision loss, and normal-tension glaucoma, which occurs even when eye pressure is within the normal range.
The main risk factors for developing glaucoma include age, family history of glaucoma, African American or Hispanic ethnicity, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and nearsightedness. Glaucoma can also be caused by eye injuries, eye surgeries, and long-term use of certain medications.
Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma is important to prevent permanent vision loss. Treatment typically involves lowering the pressure inside the eye through the use of eye drops, oral medications, or surgery. Regular eye exams are also important to monitor the condition and detect any changes.
Symptoms of glaucoma may include blurry vision, loss of peripheral vision, halos around lights, eye pain or redness, and nausea or vomiting. However, in many cases, there are no symptoms until vision loss has already occurred.
If you have risk factors for glaucoma or are experiencing any symptoms, it is important to schedule regular eye exams with an eye doctor.