Glaucoma Treatment with our Fiar Lawn Optometrists
Standard comprehensive eye exams always include glaucoma evaluations in Fair Lawn NJ, and there is very good reason for this. The most common form of glaucoma can easily sneak up on you if you don’t get checked for it. Since any vision lost to the disease is permanently gone, frequent checkups are the best insurance against it. Once it is spotted, treatment can be started that will halt further loss of visual acuity.
When Should You Come In for a Special Glaucoma Examination?
Sometimes, it’s a good idea to get a separate exam for glaucoma outside of your normal checkup schedule. This is especially important if you experience the symptoms of closed-angle glaucoma. Closed-angle glaucoma comes on suddenly and can cause quick vision loss.
What is Closed-Angle Glaucoma?
This is a condition in which the angles – the drainage ducts for internal eye fluids – suddenly become clogged. When this happens, pressure in the eye soars very quickly. The sudden change produces symptoms including redness, eye pain, headaches, and the appearance of halos around light sources like lamps. Not everyone gets all of the symptoms, so it’s important to have an exam even if you only experience some of them.
What About Open-Angle Glaucoma?
Open-angle glaucoma features drainage ducts that do not drain efficiently. This causes a gradual buildup of pressure in the eye. Typically, the change is slow enough that you won’t notice an obvious symptom until the disease is quite advanced and permanent vision loss has already occurred. This is why eye doctors strongly suggest that you get regular glaucoma eye exams as part of your regular checkups.
Treatments for Glaucoma
The treatments for this condition depend on whether it is open or closed-angle. For open-angle glaucoma, eye drops that slow the production of the eye’s internal fluids can stop the progression of the disease. Eye drops that thin this fluid can also work. Surgery to improve the efficiency of the drainage ducts may be considered in severe cases.
Closed-angle glaucoma can be treated by one or more methods meant to restore drainage to the eye. These typically involve laser surgery to open a pathway and create a safe reservoir for the fluids. Sometimes, an implant may be used to create a new drainage duct.
Get Tested at Resident Eye Care Associates
You shouldn’t wait for symptoms to appear before being tested for glaucoma. To prevent permanent vision loss, get checked by one of our doctors at least once a year, or if you do have symptoms, immediately. We’ll be happy to see you here at Resident Eye Care Associates and provide any testing and treatments you need. Contact us today at (201) 797-2747.