Understanding Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment Options
July 11, 2022
Safe Diagnosis and Proper Treatment of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve and increases the risk of blindness. It’s a genetic disease and occurs when pressure accumulates in the affected eye. Glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness if left untreated for an extended period. It’s sad to note that glaucoma rarely shows early symptoms and pain. Visit Anh Nguyen Ophthalmology in Falls Church, VA, regularly to have your eyes checked.
What Causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma develops when aqueous humor (the fluid in your eye) builds up inside the eye. That occurs when the mesh-like eye channel through which the liquid flows out gets blocked. Aqueous humor may also build up when your eye generates an excess of the liquid. In rare cases, glaucoma can occur when your eyes suffer chemical or blunt injury, inflammatory conditions, or severe infections.
Glaucoma is common among people over 40 years, diabetes patients, and families with a history of glaucoma. It’s also common among those suffering from farsightedness or nearsightedness, eye injury, and thinner corneas.
How is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
Anh Nguyen Ophthalmology doctors like Dr. Anh Nguyen, Dr. David Parver, and Dr. Roshni Patel have adequate skills and tools to conduct comprehensive eye examinations. Your doctor will use tonometry to measure your intraocular pressure. They will use imaging and dilated eye examination tools to determine the level of optic nerve damage.
A visual field test will also be conducted to determine the parts of your eye that have suffered vision loss. Also, the doctor will run pachymetry tests to determine your corneal thickness and gonioscopic tests to inspect your eye’s drainage angle. If glaucoma is detected, your doctor will recommend the best treatment based on the severity of your glaucoma.
What Are the Best Treatments for Glaucoma?
Multiple glaucoma treatments are available, but your doctor will know which to recommend depending on the type of glaucoma and the severity of your condition. Eye drops increase fluid removal or reduce the amount of eye fluid generated. Eye drops require following a tight dosage and timeline. They may cause blurred vision, allergies, stinging, irritated eyes, and redness.
Your ophthalmologist may also recommend oral medications such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitor or beta-blocker to boost drainage and reduce fluid creation.
In rare cases, your ophthalmologist may recommend laser surgical procedures such as trabeculoplasty, iridotomy, or cyclophotocoagulation. The laser surgical procedures are safe, effective, and treat glaucoma fast. Surgeries come in handy when you have angle-closure glaucoma or open-angle glaucoma. They remove the fluid blockage in angle-closure glaucoma and increase liquid flow for open-angle glaucoma patients.
Also, your doctor may prescribe home remedies such as eating a healthy diet to promote healthy eyes and exercises to reduce eye pressure. Caffeine drinks increase eye pressure, so your doctor may ask you to reduce or stop taking drinks with high amounts of caffeine.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you have eye pressure and pains or low vision and red eyes, you might be a candidate for glaucoma treatment. Schedule a glaucoma diagnosis and treatment today. Request your Anh Nguyen Ophthalmology appointment today by filling out our online form.
