What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to a series of conditions that damage the optic nerve. Usually, this serious problem stems from excess pressure in the eye. Early detection and treatment are vital steps for reducing vision loss and other damage from eye conditions like glaucoma, making it imperative to maintain regularly scheduled eye care visits at our Roseville, CA office. Wilmarth Eye and Laser Center provides a wide variety of eye care services, including complete checkups and glaucoma screenings. Our board-certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Stephen Wilmarth, is highly experienced in the treatment and care of glaucoma.
Symptoms
Increased pressure within the eye (medically known as intraocular pressure) damages the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss and possibly blindness. Pressure can grow within the eye since the flow of fluid nourishing the cornea (aqueous humor) becomes blocked.
In the case of open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of optic nerve damage is very gradual, exhibiting few noticeable symptoms over time except for progressive deterioration of peripheral vision.
Less common but often more serious is acute or angle-closure glaucoma, where structures in the eye block drainage of the fluid and cause intraocular pressure to rise rapidly. Patients should seek help as soon as possible if they experience these symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma:
- Sudden eye pain
- Loss of vision
- Halo shapes around light sources
- Headache
- Nausea
Reviews
Evaluation & Diagnosis
The best defense against glaucoma is regularly scheduled eye exams accompanied by glaucoma screenings. Glaucoma damage isn’t reversible, but the risk to eye health and sight can be more manageable with early detection.
During a full eye care examination, Dr. Wilmarth will test the following to check for glaucoma:
- Internal eye pressure (tonometry)
- Field of vision
- Condition of the optic nerve (dilated pupil exam)
- Cornea thickness
Starting at age 40, eye doctors recommend undergoing a glaucoma screening in tandem with a full eye exam every 1 – 3 years. Patients aged 60 and older are at the highest risk of glaucoma and should undergo screenings annually.
Glaucoma FAQs
Who is at risk of developing glaucoma?
Glaucoma may affect anyone and at any time but is most common in adults over the age of 40. People with a family history of glaucoma are also more likely to develop the condition. Other risk factors include untreated health issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure. If you have a close family member with glaucoma, visit Wilmarth Eye and Laser Center for regular exams.
What if glaucoma is untreated?
Glaucoma may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages. However, this condition will progress to vision loss and eventually blindness if left untreated. Dr. Wilmarth hopes to diagnose and treat glaucoma as early as possible to prevent these serious consequences. Our goal is to help protect your eyesight for years to come.
How is glaucoma treated?
Micro-invasive glaucoma (MIGS) surgery is a new and innovative way to treat glaucoma in Roseville, CA. This minimally-invasive procedure uses cutting-edge technology to relieve intraocular pressure and allow for proper fluid drainage. Our team can review the details of this surgery and help decide if MIGS is right for your needs and goals.
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment
If you think you're suffering from glaucoma or are interested in learning more about prevention, Dr. Wilmarth is very experienced in diagnosing and treating this condition. He invites you to schedule a consult with him today to get on the road to recovery.
