Common Questions on Glaucoma

If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma or think you may have it, you likely have many questions about this eye disease. The mechanism of the illness and why you have it may be questions you have.

Call our office in Abilene, TX, to schedule your eye exam if you need eye care from a family optometrist. Glaucoma needs to be diagnosed as early as possible, so the amount of vision you lose is minimal. Always get your routine eye exam to ensure early detection and treatment.

Who Is Likely to Get Glaucoma?

While virtually anyone can get glaucoma, several risk factors make it more likely to develop.

• First, it's widespread in people older than 60, though people of any age, even babies, can develop this eye disease.
• Second, if you have members of your family who have had glaucoma, you are more likely to get it.
• Third, patients with health problems, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, are more likely to develop it.
• Fourth, if someone has corneas with a thin middle, they have an elevated risk.

Finally, if you have ever had eye injuries, you need an eye exam to see whether it caused glaucoma to develop.

Why Do People Get Glaucoma?

When a person's optic nerve suffers damage, the patient has glaucoma. In other words, a buildup of fluid inside the eye that puts too much pressure on the optic nerve is the general cause of glaucoma, though the nerve can get damaged in other ways. However, science doesn't yet know the exact mechanism for the interaction of eye pressure and the optic nerve.

The eye has a gel-like fluid that usually flows well through it and drains as needed. However, when someone has too much of this fluid inside the eye, it can damage the optic nerve. This damage can happen because the body simply makes too much of this eye fluid.

What Are Glaucoma Symptoms?

Vision loss is the main symptom that patients notice. This symptom often starts in the side of the vision with blind spots. Some patients will get tunnel vision. There may also be blind spots somewhere else in the vision. When many patients look at lights, they see a halo around them. They may also find they see more glare than usual. The eyes may hurt or turn red, and the patient's eye may look hazy.

Schedule an Eye Exam with Us

To monitor your eye health, routine visits are essential. Our optometrist will give you an insider diagnosis of your eyes and what they need to function accordingly. In addition, when you need family eye care, we're available at our optometrist office in Abilene, TX. Call us at (325) 698-2010 to schedule an appointment.