Glaucoma
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that involves damage to the optic nerve, the part of the eye that carries the images we see to the brain. The optic nerve is
like an electric cable containing about 1.2 million wires. This condition can damage nerve fibers, causing blind spots to develop. In the most common type
of Glaucoma, patients may experience a gradual narrowing of their peripheral vision that creates “tunnel vision.” Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness
in the United States, especially for older people, but loss of sight can often be prevented with early treatment.
How is Glaucoma treated?
As a rule, damage caused by Glaucoma cannot be reversed. It is highly recommended that you be tested regularly if you have several of the risk factors for Glaucoma. If diagnosed early Glaucoma is usually controlled with eye drops, taken daily to decrease eye pressure. Depending
upon your situation and the seriousness of the disease, laser surgery and surgery may be used to help prevent additional damage. Dr. Alborzian is one of the very few San Diego ophthalmologist with the training to perform Canaloplasty (a new, highly effective, non-invasive surgerical technique for the treatment of Glaucoma)
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What causes Glaucoma?
Increased pressure inside the eye can be the culprit. Pressure builds up in the eye when the clear liquid called the aqueous humor, which normally flows
in and out of the eye, is prevented from draining properly. This can happen in different ways, depending on the type of Glaucoma. The resulting increase
in pressure within the eye can damage the optic nerve. As the optic nerve deteriorates, blind spots develop in the visual field. This can develop in one
or both eyes.
Eye doctors used to think that high intraocular pressure was the main cause of optic nerve damage. Today, however, we know that even people with “normal” pressure can experience vision loss from Glaucoma. On the other hand, some people with high intraocular pressure never develop optic nerve damage. (These people need to be followed carefully by an eye doctor, because they are considered “Glaucoma suspects.”)
Symptoms of Glaucoma
By the time your vision is damaged from Glaucoma, the disease has been at work for a long time. There are some signs and symptoms that may be noticeable before Glaucoma reaches an advanced stage, including:
Common Symptoms of Glaucoma include any of the following:- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Trouble differentiating between varying shades of light and dark
- Trouble with night vision, halos around lights
- Loss of side vision
- Eye pain or discomfort
Anyone can develop glaucoma. Some people are at higher risk than others. They include:
- Over the age of 40
- Abnormally high eye pressure
- African, Scandinavian, Celtic or Russian ancestry
- Diabetes
- Nearsightedness
- Regular, long-term use of steroids/cortisone
- Previous eye injury
