Doctor Resources Pembroke Pines: 954-437-9300 Weston: 954-633-5488

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, and often displays no symptoms until after some vision loss has already occurred. Glaucoma affects an estimated two million Americans – and half of them don’t even know they have it. However, glaucoma can be controlled if caught early. Those who are African-American, have relatives afflicted by glaucoma, are diabetic, and/or are very nearsighted should have a yearly eye pressure check-up. Although there is no cure for glaucoma, it can be controlled and loss of vision can be reduced if the condition is treated early.

Please contact Dr. Marc Bosem at CorrectVision for more information on glaucoma at our Weston and Fort Lauderdale, Florida-area practice.

Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, occurs when nourishing fluids that circulate in the eyes are not draining fast enough, leading to a build-up of pressure inside the eye. This extra fluid begins to push against the optic nerve connecting the eye to the brain. If this pressure remains at a high volume for too long, irreparable vision loss can occur.

There are typically no symptoms in the early stages of glaucoma, which makes it very important that those at risk have their vision checked regularly. In later stages of glaucoma, symptoms include:

  • Mild aching in the eyes
  • Gradual peripheral vision loss (top, sides, and bottom areas of vision)
  • Halo effect around light sources
  • Reduced visual acuity (particularly at night, and not corrected with glasses)

Although glaucoma can affect people of any age, race, or ethnicity, the likelihood of developing it increases if you are African American, diabetic, very nearsighted, over 35 years old, and/or if you have others in your family afflicted by the condition.

Narrow angle glaucoma is a type of glaucoma that is more rare and is very different from open-angle glaucoma. Narrow glaucoma is typically characterized by pressure in the eye that rises very fast, leading to a feeling of fullness in the eye, as well as reddening, blurred vision, and swelling. This type of glaucoma produces blindness in the affected eye within three to five days. It is vitally important that you seek treatment as quickly as possible.

A defect in the eye structure is usually the cause of narrow angle glaucoma. In some cases, this can be attributed to pupil dilation, dilation drops, certain injected or oral medications, a blow or traumatic injury to the eye, diabetes-related growth of abnormal blood vessels, or other factors.

Glaucoma Diagnosis

Everyone should have his or her vision checked for glaucoma at around the age of 35, and then again at the age of 40. Higher-risk individuals, inclucing patients over 60, should have their pressure checked every year or two.

After applying numbing drops, one of our opthalmologists will use a tonometer to check the eye pressure. An ophthalmoscope can also be used to take a look at the color and shape of your optic nerve. One of our eye care physicians will also use a test called perimetry to test and map your field of vision. This simple, pain-free test will allow us to determine any pattern of visual changes caused by the early stages of glaucoma.